FACING THE INEVITABLE

2 TIMOTHY 4:6

A. "FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED, AND THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND"
  1. Our text and related statements by Paul show:
    1. How clearly Paul realized that his fruitful ministry was about to close
    2. That the hand of the executioner would soon add him to the long list of the martyrs of Jesus Christ; but, it is to be noted, how that hero of the cause of Christ faced the inevitable; a cruel death at the command of Nero, that bloody tyrant
    3. There is no tremor, or hurry, or impatience in his last days
    4. His language is singularly calm and composed
    5. The apostle is not preoccupied with his own approaching suffering and death
    6. His mind dwells upon the continuance of field evangelism
    7. Death seems to hold no terror for him; but rather a deep sense of satisfaction of dying for Jesus Christ and Him crucified B. NOTE BRIEFLY, THE GREAT SECRET OF PAUL'S BOLDNESS IN FACING THE INEVITABLE
  2. The happy retrospect of a useful life:
    1. "I have fought a good fight"
    2. To his son Timothy he writes, "Fight the good fight of faith" - I Tim. 6:12
    3. To Paul every Christian is a soldier enlisting in the army of Christ - 2 Tim. 2:3-4
  3. The Christian faces three deadly enemies:
    1. A world of sinful pleasures - I John 2:15-16
    2. He admonishes us to
  4. "Flee fornication" - I Cor. 6:18
  5. "Flee idolatry" - I Cor. 10:14
  6. "Flee, also, youthful lusts" - 2 Tim. 2:22
  7. "Flee all these things" - I Tim. 6:11
    1. We must fight our inborn carnal nature - I Cor. 15:31; Gal. 6:8
    2. We must be ready to fight against Satan and his angels - Eph. 6:10-18; James 4:7
  8. Faith in the ultimate and glorious triumph of the cause of Christ was the impelling motive power of Paul's boldness to face the inevitable:
    1. Said he, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" - 2 Tim. 2:11-12
    2. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" - Phil. 1:21
    3. If and when such a faith in Jesus Christ possesses us we too, face the inevitable with Christian courage - as did Simeon - Luke 2:29-30; as did the martyr Stephen - Acts 7:60
    4. The happy retrospect of a close and happy relationship with Jesus will remove the bitterness of death from our cup C. THE BLESSED PROSPECT IN STORE FOR HIM; "HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH THE LORD THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE SHALL GIVE TO ME AT THAT DAY"
  9. The reward: - "The crown of righteousness"
    1. It was the symbol of excellence and glory
    2. It was a recognition of the righteousness of the wearer; it was not a crown of ambition; it was not a symbol of vain glory
    3. It was, on the part of the righteous judge, a mark of acceptance of a life of faithfulness even unto death - Rev. 2:10
  10. But note, also, Paul's inclusion in that final reward of all the soldiers of the cross of Christ":
    1. Said he, "and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing"
    2. He was fully aware of the untold numbers of the faithful who fought the good fight, kept the faith and laid down their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ - Heb. 11:33-40
  11. Our opening text makes it crystal clear:
    1. That death holds no terror for the soldiers of Jesus Christ - who have fought a good fight, have finished their course, and who have kept the faith even unto death
    2. They are grateful for a life guided by the Holy Spirit - John 16:12-13
    3. They, like Moses of old, are not frightened by the afflictions that may come their way - they fix their eyes upon the invisible - Heb. 11:24-26
    4. To them the inevitable is but transient a moment - 2 Cor. 4:17
    5. To them death is but a rest from their toil - waiting for the call of the lifegiver - Rev. 14:13; Job 19:25-27
    6. Will this be your experience as you, as all men do, face the inevitable? - Ps. 23:4-6


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