New Year/Old Year

2 Timothy 4:6 to 8

Paul was in prison with little chance of release, he knew he was likely to die a martyr’s death. This letter was written to Timothy and the church for all time. He had been a believer for over 30 years since his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road. He was reflecting on 30 years of walking with Christ. Are we look back on life like this? Are we on the same road as Paul, seeking God’s glory? Paul wants Timothy to take up the baton from Paul.
It is good to reflect on the past. We tend to reflect too little. Reflection and meditation is good for us, it keeps us humble.
What do we remember about 2007? Iraq, Pakistan, Global warming, the rise of China as a global superpower, murders, the McCanns? At home there has been bird flu, foot and mouth, murders, a new prime minister, a run on a bank, the woes of youth – binge drinking, drugs, violent attacks, increases in sexually transmitted diseases and abortions, family breakdown.
In the wider Christian scene we have seen Tony Blair convert to Catholicism despite there being no repentance for his support of anti-catholic laws. Catholic attendance now exceeds Anglican. However, William Wilberforce and John Newton were publicly remembered – this is good, but there is a shortage of younger pastors and there aging congregations in many churches. Churches have grown, people have been faithful to Him, new churches have been planted. Our local church, this church, has maintained its numbers, finances have improved, we have seen new faces and spiritual growth. We have seen answered prayers in the face of ongoing problems. We hope and believe that some have come to faith in the Lord Jesus.
What about us as people? Do we remember blessings we have had? New relationships, jobs etc, pains, disappointments, strains and stresses as well?
Paul was able to do all of this when he looked back. He could be practical in his faith. He looked back over a whole life time and what God had done through him.
1. His life was like a sacrificial drink offering – verse 6. Wine would be poured onto an offering. He willingly offered his life to bring glory to God. He was coming to the end of his life. ‘Departure’ means ‘unlocking’ in Greek. It is a prisoner word, being released. His time in the dungeon would soon be over. He would leave the physical body. It is also a farmer’s word – loosing the ox after it was free from the yolk. He has rest to look forward to. It is a soldier’s word – the tent was let down and he could go home. It is a sailor’s word – the ship had been tied up and the ropes were loosed and the ship sails away. It is an athlete’s word – the race is over. Paul is now coming to the end. We do not know how long we have to live. Tragedy strikes at an hour we do not know. We should not fret over how long we have, we should have peace.
2. Paul has fought the good fight of faith – verse 7a. He had many relatives who opposed him in the Jewish faith. He lived in a pagan world of immorality, abortion and family breakdown as we do. He fought for the truth, for the light for those who live in darkness. He showed people the way to God. It is a good fight. Sin debases people, they need the light of the truth, so they come back to the living God. So we uphold the values of the light and truth of God that gives true hope in the world. We should not judge by appearances. We should fight for the gospel, not the things of this world. We should be in the army of the Lord. Are we engaged in the battle or just a bystander? If we do not oppose Islam and other unchristian beliefs we will give in to them and they will triumph. Christianity changed the pagan world which was rife with ungodly beliefs and practices. We are in a good fight.
3. He had finished the race – verse 7b. Noticed, he had not won it, but he had pressed on, he had kept the weight down and he did not think of himself, he was slowed down by some dominant sin but he fixed his eyes on Jesus. An expert athlete ignores the crowd and all its distractions and concentrates on performing to their best.
4. He kept the faith – verse 7c. Paul passed onto others what he received from others. Paul speaks later of Demas who deserted him. Some people’s love grew cold and their love died away. Some turned away to other religions and left the faith. Today we see some people do this including some in our own family who break our hearts. We need to keep the faith. Paul wanted to pass his faith onto Timothy. It is not an artefact, it is a treasure that should not be neglected, it is a truth to share and pass onto others. We must think of how we can share this precious truth. We may value our precious truth but we must pass it on and evangelise others. We MUST engage in evangelistic endeavours.
5. Conclusion. Paul kept the faith, he kept going and there was a prize – verse 8, it was waiting for Paul on the last day. In the ancient Olympics the victor got a crown on the last day. What we work for now is rewarded later, it is a crown for righteous people who had lived righteous lives. Nero was an unrighteous judge who would judge Paul. We will have an unbelievably righteous judge. Who will get the crown? Those who have longed for his appearing and have loved him. Have we loved God?