Keeping the Faith
Joel 2:23-29; II Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Paul in Timothy 4 is under arrest of another
government – that of Rome. In this letter he is saying goodbye since he sees
that the end is near, and he is passing on the mantle of preaching to the
Gentiles to Timothy. He tells how his time of departure has come and that he
has been poured out as a libation. He is comparing himself to a ritual
sacrifice. Yet he is confident that he has fought the good fight. He has
finished the race – but most important through all this he has kept the faith.
While the faithful in Israel had faith in God’s deliverance – Paul talks about
a crown of righteousness to be given to him on the day he departs this earth.
Paul tells how he was alone at his first defense – no one
came to support him, yet he wasn’t alone – the Lord stood by him and gave him
strength. He was able then to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. He talks
about being rescued from the Lion’s mouth. This is probably a metaphor for the
terrible sentences he has already been saved from. He declares in faith that
the Lord will rescue him from every evil attack and will save him for the
heavenly kingdom. Through all he goes through he is able to keep the faith and
give praise to God.
When we go through the dry drought times in our own
lives or feel wrongly persecuted by the sufferings that come into our lives –
maybe diseases, broken relationships, and losses; may we keep the faith. May we
believe that God can bring restoration to our lives with the faith that one day,
when we leave this earth, all sorrow and struggle will be over, and we will
live eternally with God. Amen
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