Finish Well

Context

This summer and now into the Fall months — Growing Together.

Guide — the apostle Paul. Missionary pastor. Wrote letters to the earliest churches. How to be Christian community. We are seeking to grow also, listening to his key points.

Currently in 2 Timothy, Paul’s second letter to protege, Timothy, pastor at Ephesus.

Paul is writing from Rome. Imprisoned. Knows his death is near, he will be executed for his Christian faith.

Reflects on this impending reality in our lesson today.

Text

2 Timothy 4:6–8 “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

..a brief description of some of his hardships in Rome, then he continues…

2 Timothy 4:16–18 “At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Introduction

As a pastor I have been a witness to many occasions of death —

Some surprises, resulting from accident, sudden disease, crime.

Some expected, from old age, degradation of health.

In my experience there is always an element of grief when death strikes.

Even so, many people die a “good” death. While there is grief, there is also readiness…peace…even hope.

In our Scripture lesson, Paul is talking about just that kind of “good death” and he is sharing with us that his good death is connected to how he lived his life. Death is for him a “finishing well.”

Exegesis

Paul knows he is about to die.

Partially this is by circumstance.

Under arrest in Rome. Chained to a soldier. He will go to trial; it will be demanded of him to recant his faith in Christ and instead to affirm the divinity of the emperor; he will not do it; they will execute him.

Partially by spiritual senses.

Jesus may have been hinting to Paul that he was to die in Rome, when he assured Paul that he would not die in Jerusalem, but must also testify in Rome. (Acts 23:11)

Jesus made it clear to Peter that his time of departure was nigh (2 Pet. 1:14).

Paul had probably always suspected that his life would end in martyrdom.

Paul has spent time meditating on the day of his death. That is why he talks of it in deeply spiritual terms.

2 Timothy 4:6 “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.”

Libation = pouring out of wine as a sacrifice or honoring of God.

A small deliberate spillage of wine before commencing a feast. Before we drink — “in honor of God”! (a slight pour).

Or a more elaborate ritual of pouring wine along with a sacrifice, as described in various places of the Bible, such as in Exodus and the Psalms.

Paul’s meaning:

he sees his death as an offering to God.

His blood will be poured out like wine.

Strong allusion to Jesus. Jesus poured out his life for God to redeem sinners from sin.

at the dinner, Jesus poured the wine…this is my blood shed for the remission of sin.

Paul means that his death — a libation — is his way of honoring of what Jesus has done and sharing in it. Jesus died for the world, Paul is dying for taking that message to the world.

Linked to Jesus’ death, and ALSO linked to Jesus eternal life.

“the time of my departure has come.” Death is for Paul, no not an end. It is a departure…that is, a setting out to a destination. A leaving one place, going to another.

Jesus had said on his last night with his disciples, after he had poured the wine…

I go ahead of you to prepare a place for you, so that where I am you may also be.

Jesus was clear that there is a destination after death. Eternal life.

And Paul had seen the risen Lord. He knew there was life after death!

In Paul’s outlook: the only question about eternal life was whether someone was ready to enter into it.

So Paul is reflecting upon himself: Was HE ready to go forward to the new life?

The answer to this question was Yes.

He looks back on his life of faith in Christ and is satisfied.

I fought the good fight

I faced opposition from others; I battled my own sin; I won people to faith in Christ;

I finished the race

I did not give up midway through; I’ve come all the way to Rome where Christ said I would be; here I am.

I kept the faith

I had moments of doubt and despair but never fell away.

So: Yes, I am ready.

Paul looks squarely at death with readiness and with a view to what comes after.

2 Timothy 4:8 “From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Crown symbolizes victory, honor…given to athletes, warriors and kings…and faithful Christians.

James 1:12 “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation…they will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.”

I have run, fought, I have maintained — soon the Lord will crown me: Crown of welcome — Words of well done, good and faithful servant.

Paul is ready for death because he had been living his life well for the Lord. Finishing well.

Interpretation

Death is an appointment we all have. We may not want to keep it. But we will.

The question is. Will we be ready for it?

Classical wisdom teaches us to always be preparing for the day we will die. The Stoics said, “Memento Mori” — remember you will die. Remember you are mortal.

Sounds morbid initially. But really it is a call to purposefulness.

The classic thinkers believed that a good death was the result of a good life and a good life was achieved by always being mindful that death is on the horizon.

an amusement park. It is going to close in 30 minutes…do what is most important, what you came here for!

Being mindful of death helps us to prioritize what is really important.

Hospice nurses, chaplains, medical personnel, and others who work regularly with those who are dying, have observed that people who can look back on their lives and, on balance, feel good about their lives are more likely to feel ready at the time of death. Those who are at peace with death will often say,

I did my best, at least often.

when I made mistakes, I tried to learn from them.

cherished relationships

their spouse, children, parents, friends

made amends. I’m not leaving behind enemies.

contributed to the common good

I became the best person I could be — mentally, emotionally, spiritually

I achieved some goals

As Christians, we can come to the end our life with peace when we take the time to live for what is really important…when we remember that death will ask us whether we have done that afterall.

And even more. Because of Christ can look beyond death to a great hope. Eternal life.

Paul reminds us that if we connect our lives to Christ we can depart from this life to the next life with confidence.

As Christians we are to grow spiritually…and that means to grow closer to Christ and to trust more and more of our lives to him.

a little libation every day…

So that when it comes time to surrender our life to death, we know we are actually handing our lives over to the resurrected one.

One wife was caring for her husband, who was dying slowly at home. She was caring for him. Said, this not easy, we will be parted soon. But it makes us value each day that we do have. To treasure what is really important in life. And beyond life. Our faith in Christ has become so much more real. Because of him, we will say good bye, but we will see each other again.

Like you I have been to many funerals. When faithful Christians die, there is a note of hope. They have fought the good fight, run the race, kept the faith. Many of them departed said, “I go now to be with the Lord!”

Classic wisdom: A good death follows from a good life.

For Christians, a good death followed by a good life again…so finish well.

Application

It is never to late to start living the life that you want to finish well.

if you are on the younger side — today is the day to put the only one who offers eternal life in the center of your life. How can you serve him and love him and be a part of what he is doing in the world.

so that you can say, I kept the faith, the long race, the hard faith. Now the crown.

If you are older side. The same word. It is never too late.

The game is won in the second half!!

Even if we have very painful sins in our lives, we can be forgiven and start living now the spiritual life we want to finish well. Jesus has a way of converting even the worst stuff in our lives into reasons to praise him and become more like him.

A practice for this week, and perhaps for longer. Live each day like it is your last.

Not the go off and impulsively pursue your bucket list.

a valuable spiritual discipline.

Each morning and to aim at a good night. If I want to go to bed in peace, how must I live this day?

We can have peace at the end of each day: I fought the good fight, I ran the race, I kept the faith.

At work, marriage, combat sin, loved and reconciled, witnessed and served.

Each night a rehearsal for death. Darkness and unconsciousness descends. We are not promised tomorrow.

Now i lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep, and if I die before i wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

A prayer at the end of the day, and at the end of life.

the summation of all our days: I fought the good fight, I ran the race, I kept the faith.

Knowing the night comes, we live each day with purpose.

Let us so live as those who are ready to die. Let us die as those who are ready to go forth to live.

Conclusion

Is it possible to finish well. Yes. By living well now.