ONE MAN OF GOD IN THE FACE OF DEATH

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=743424" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#330066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="048005f0dkblkv.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Preach The Word</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|    </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preach The Word"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Timothy"><U><B>2 Timothy</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL"><U><B>Daniel</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ZECHARIAH: "><U><B>Zechariah</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARK"><U><B>Mark</b></U></A><B>    I   </b><A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOPICAL STUDIES"><U><B>Topical Studies</b></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>ONE MAN OF GOD IN THE FACE OF DEATH</b></div> <div> 2 Timothy 4:6-8</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Death is not a topic that we, as a people like to talk about very much.  And yet, though it's not a favorite topic of conversation nobody can afford to totally ignore it.  I mean George Bernard show was right on when he said, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"The statistics on death are quite impressive - one out of one people die."</FONT>  And I'm pretty sure Hollywood actor, writer and director, Woody Allen, spoke for a lot of people when he said, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"It's not that I'm afraid to die.  I just don't want to be there when it happens."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> And so I've asked myself this question<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >, "What is it about death that causes us to fear it?" </FONT>And, obviously, we can't answer a question like this with just one simplistic answer.  Yet still, there's no doubt in my mind that, among the top reasons people fear death are these: the fear of the unknown / Neglecting to be adequately prepared for it / Foolishly believing that it wouldn't happen.  (Example: Elvis is dead? Impossible)</div> <bR> <div> And that's what makes this portion of Scripture so out of the ordinary.  It's a grandiose piece of Scripture for this very reason that it's written by a man who knows he's on death row, he knows death is knocking at his door, he knows his life is about to end and he expresses absolutely no fear, no doubts and no regrets whatsoever. </div> <bR> <div> There's a lot of things that go through your mind when death stares you in the face and calls your name.  Your mind often goes into a reflective mode.  You evaluate things and ask yourself the most important questions.  You think about your present, your past and what the future has in store for you.  Questions like: Where am I today? Who are my loved ones? Who are my really true and faithful friends? Why am I dying? Than you think about your Past: What kind of life did I live? Was it worth it? Am I proud of it? Did I live an honorable life? Or a shameful life? And you look ahead and ask yourself: Where am I headed to? It is possible that it all ends in the dirt? Or is it true that there's a heaven and a hell? If so, what's it going to be like?</div> <bR> <div> So this is exactly what the Apostle Paul is doing here.  As he finds himself at deaths door, he reflects on his Present, his Past and what's ahead for him.  And 1) Concerning the Present, Paul says , <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I'm Ready!"</FONT>, 2) Concerning the Past, he says, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I've been Faithful."</FONT>, and 3) Concerning his Future, he says, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I'm really looking forward to it!"</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. CONCERNING THE PRESENT, PAUL SAYS, "I'M READY!" (6)</b></div> <bR> <div> "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure."</div> <bR> <div> Two things I want us to take note of here: A. His being poured out like a drink offering, and B. His referring to his death as a "departure".</div> <bR> <div> First, he says<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >, "I am already being poured out like a drink offering."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What's he talking about here?  He's alluding to instructions God had given the Jewish Community concerning the way they were to worship him.  In the Book of Numbers He tells them how they were to offer an animal as a burnt sacrifice, then an offering of grain and the final touch would be <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"a drink offering"</FONT> of fine wine. Here's how one commentator describes how it was done:</div> <bR> <div> "The wine was taken and poured over the sacrifice, which, of course, was really hot because it was on a brazen altar with fire underneath it.  You know exactly what would happen (then).  It would just evaporate and disappear. That is… what Paul is saying here." <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >McGee, 2 Timothy, p.477</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So the worshipper would offer his animal first, then his grain, and as a final act of worship, he'd have his wine poured over it and evaporate up to God.  And Paul is picturing his coming execution as that type of voluntary sacrifice and offering unto the Lord.  It's as if he's saying, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"Ever since that day when the Lord Jesus chose me and called me to become an Apostle I've held nothing back and I am certainly not going to hold back now.  I've</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >offered my body as a living sacrifice, my life as a living sacrifice and pretty soon I'm going to add my blood to all of it as my final act of devotion before I enter His glorious Presence."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What a testimony! Talk about practicing what you preach! Talk about endurance all the way to the end!</div> <bR> <div> Then he says, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"The time has come for my departure."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> He's talking about departing from this world. But the Greek word for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Departure"</FONT> here is one of those words that the English language just doesn't  have a satisfying equivalent for.  The Greek word is "analusis" and has a variety of meanings. </div> <bR> <div> The people used this word to refer to taking the yoke off a farm animal after a long days work.  So to use this to refer to physical death Paul is saying that it's a time when your work on earth is done.  When death comes that's when the Christian lays his burden down once and for all.  It's like arriving at the end of a long and tiresome journey and saying, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"Finally! It's finished! I'm done! I've carried this load long and far enough. Now it's time to rest."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> But this word was also used for setting some one loose from a sort of bondage or captivity.  So, in this sense, death for the Christian is a time of liberation and release from whatever was holding him captive and keeping him from being totally free.  Freedom from temptation.  Freedom from sin.  Freedom from Satan.  Freedom from a corrupt and evil world system.  Freedom from all sorts of human limitations.  For the Christian death is really freedom. </div> <bR> <div> Third, this word was used to speak of loosening the ropes of a tent.  Several times the Bible refers to our lives here on earth as a pilgrims journey.  We are merely travelers.  We're not here to stay.  We're here to obey.  Obey God.  And when our life comes to the end of it's journey, it's time to pack our bags, unpitch our tents and move on to heaven.  </div> <bR> <div> And finally, this word was used to refer to the untying of a ship so it could float out to sea.  And that's how physical death is.  When we die it's like untying yourself from this world filled with sin, suffering and death in order to sail on to a world where sin, suffering and death don't live there.   So, you see, what Paul is saying here really is that he's not sad, he's not afraid, he's not holding back, he's ready! It's time to go and Paul is saying, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I'm ready! Let's get on with it."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2. CONCERNING THE PAST, PAUL SAYS, "I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL!"</b></div> <bR> <div> "I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."</div> <bR> <div> Here Paul is referring to his service to the Lord since his conversion to Christ.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT."</b></div> <bR> <div> Here Paul is referring to the faithful Christian life as being a battle.  And I ask myself, why? Why does is have to be a battle if we want to live for Christ?  And the answer is found in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >1 John 5:19, "The whole world is under control of the evil one."</FONT> In<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > John 12:31 </FONT>Jesus calls Satan<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >, "The prince of this world."</FONT> It's been the case since Adam fell.  God had placed Adam as His prince on the earth.  But when Adam disobeyed his authority was usurped by the devil himself.  And it's gonna stay that way until Jesus, the Second Adam, returns and takes it from Satan who took it from the first Adam. </div> <bR> <div> That's why the Christian has to fight his way all the way through.  We fight against the devil, temptation, false teachers, unbelievers, a godless world system, sin, the flesh, pride, everything in this world that is anti-God.  And there's quite a bit of it, isn't it?</div> <bR> <div> The question is, "Are you fighting it, brother? Sister? Or, have you joined the enemy?" Paul could say with all humility, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I've fought the good fight.  From beginning til now."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE."</b></div> <bR> <div> Here Paul is comparing His calling to a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"race"</FONT>.  And this was Paul's constant passion throughout his Christian life.  Turn to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Acts 20:22-24</FONT></div> <bR> <div> "You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" Galatians 5:7</div> <bR> <div> "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…" Hebrews 12:1-2</div> <bR> <div> What do you need to stay in a race? Concentration. Determination. Focus. Persistence. Discipline. Pacing yourself.</div> <bR> <div> "Ted Williams, the famed baseball player, reportedly had such powers of concentration that, when he was standing at bat, he could not be distracted even by firecrackers thrown at his feet.  He allowed nothing to interfere with his unusual concentration at that moment.  That is the degree of self-discipline for which every child of God should yearn in serving Him."  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >MacArthur, 2 Timothy, p.194</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Recently on 60 minutes one of the greatest baseball pitchers around today said that his concentration was so focused that he didn't even hear the roaring of 20,000 fans.</div> <bR> <div> And that's the kind of determined and focused concentration Paul had when it came to his calling in the Christian life.  He writes, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I have finished the race." I denied myself, I carried my cross, and I followed the Lord."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"I  HAVE KEPT THE FAITH"</b></div> <bR> <div> What <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"faith"</FONT>? The Judeo-Christian faith.  The faith described in detail in the Old and New Testament.  He believed, he preached it, he defended it, he passed it on and he lived it.  Paul wasn't a double-minded man.  He wasn't a nominal-Christian.  He put his life on the line from the beginning and left it there right to the end where they chopped his head off. </div> <bR> <div> So, as Paul reflects on his past, he can honestly say, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I've been faithful.  I have no regrets."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3. CONCERNING THE FUTURE, PAUL SAYS, "I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!" (8)</b></div> <bR> <div> When Napoleon, the Great French General, was on his deathbed he wasn't looking forward to his future, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"I die before my time; and my body will be given back to earth, to become food for worms.  Such is the fate which so soon awaits the great Napoleon."</FONT>  The French statesman Talleyrand wrote these words on his deathbed, "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >Behold, 83 years passed away! What cares! What agitation! What anxieties! What ill will! What sad complications! And all without other results, except great fatigue of mind and body, and a profound sentiment of discouragement with regard of the future…!"</FONT> Quite a difference from Paul, isn't it.  Paul is looking forward to meeting Christ and receiving an award. </div> <bR> <div> And many believers today don't seem to realize that many those rewards are actually stored there in advance during their lives on earth. </div> <bR> <div> "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…" Matthew 6:20</div> <bR> <div> "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great." Mt. 5:11-12</div> <bR> <div> "The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His  angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds." Mt. 16:27</div> <bR> <div> Well, here in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Timothy 4:8, </FONT>Paul refers specifically to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > "the crown of righteousness."</FONT> And then he says that he's not the only one but every true believer is going to be awarded this  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"crown of righteousness."</FONT> And this award is the blessing of being as righteous as the Lord Jesus when believers receive their new and glorified bodies. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CONCLUSION</b></div> <bR> <div> Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Psalm 116:15</FONT></div> <bR> <div> There's a place for weeping and mourning the death of a loved one.  But if he or she's a believer it's also a time for rejoicing.  When our twin girls died I did both. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14</div> <bR> <div> Amen and God Bless You All.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>