2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I want to jump right in this morning without any preliminaries or platitudes. Let’s go straight to the testimony of Apostle Paul to his young protege Timothy. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think this testimony is from an older man that has had a life of ease and comfort, has made peace, and is ready to go home with the Lord. His tone is not one of regret or sorrow, but instead a joyous celebration of a life well lived. And from strictly a spiritual perspective, it is. But from a carnal, natural, human standpoint, there’s a bit of explaining we need to do.
You see, Paul was writing this letter from ‘death row’. He was in prison, and knew he wasn’t getting out alive. And it wasn’t because he did any crimes or murders, but simply because he preached the Gospel of Jesus. But not only that, he had been beaten on several occasions, shipwrecked, bitten by a viper, abandoned by friends, countrymen and even church folk. He was betrayed, talked about, doubted as an Apostle and worst of all, he did all that for the Lord while having a serious ailment of his own. The Apostle Paul we honor and celebrate now, was not celebrated or appreciated during his time on earth. Yet we read this gracious testimony and wonder how could he feel this way. Seriously, how does one encounter all the trials and tribulations this man endured and still ‘keep the faith’?
Well, first of all we have to truly understand what faith is, and what it is not. The Hebrew writer (11:1) declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. While this is one of the most important concepts to understand, it is perhaps one of the more esoteric and mystical statements in all the New Testament. But I’ll give it the ‘old college try’. What I get from this scripture is that the substance of our faith is supported by a hope that cannot be proven, substantiated, demonstrated or seen. Faith stands on nothing but the believers blind trust in God. Consequently, faith is not the answer to anything. Instead it questions everyone that says they believe. It asks, “will you still hold on when everything is lost”?
Habakkuk first recorded a prophecy from God in which he titled, “The Just Shall Live By Faith”. In this particular prophecy, Habakkuk delivers horrible news to the people of God concerning events that would soon take place. They were going to be taken captive by a cruel and evil people. And the situation was going to get so bad that no one could escape being touched by the intense pain and suffering. But strangely enough, there would be a remnant of sorts. A people stripped of everything except their faith. God refers to these folk as, ‘the Just’.
Now back to Paul. He quotes from Habakkuk in two of his writings, (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11) to make clear his revelation of the power, purpose and position of faith in the life of the believer. The interesting thing to me is that it hardly resembles our modern notion of what we think faith is suppose to look like. In Romans Paul quotes Habakkuk and then talks about the wrath of God being exercised against all those that practice unrighteousness. And to the Galatians he writes a scathing reproach to those teachers that embrace the law over the grace of God and quotes Habakkuk as proof of his claim that faith is superior to the efforts and self righteousness of men. But in no case throughout all the New Testament writing of Paul does he mention faith as a cure all, easy way of living. It appears to me this kind of thinking is a more modern American adaptation to scripture.
Somewhere along the line we’ve gotten faith confused with favor. The fact God has been patient, long suffering, and kind to us is not proof positive that we have faith. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Prosperity, health, wealth and good fortune don’t connote you have faith. That’s favor. And favor can be removed. Faith is what you have left after you lose all your prosperity, health, wealth and good fortune. But here’s the good news. When everything is gone, the just aren’t empty handed. They still have their faith.
Dear Children of the Most High, I implore you, I beg you, please study the word of God for yourselves. Read Habakkuk, Romans, Galatians. Hear what God is presently saying. There are such strong parallels between those days and our current lives. God is the same. And if we aren’t careful our punishment for becoming a unrighteous people will be repeated. But even if all is lost, never, ever lose your faith. The just have nothing else to live by!
God Bless
