Last Words

Significant Lessons from Second Letters

Famous Last Words

Last words carry significances for different reasons. Maybe it’s the person. Maybe it’s the context. Maybe the words themselves.

Ben Franklin was dying at 84. His daughter told him to change position in bed so he could breathe more easily.

“A dying man can do nothing easy.”

Todd Beamer, passenger on flight 93 on 9/11. He and other passengers knew what was happening at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. They rushed the cockpit and brought the plane down in a field in Pennsylvania. He was on the phone to his wife.

“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.”

Groucho Marx, ever the comedian.

“Die, my dear? Why, that’s the last thing I’ll do.”

Pistol Pete Maravich. Retired basketball player, before a pick up game at his alma mater, LSU.

“I feel great!” He had a heart attack while he played and died on the court.

George Orwell, author who wrote “1984”

“At 50 everyone has the face he deserves.” He died when he was 46.

Nostradamus, famous prophet and prognosticator.

“Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.”

Marie Antoinette, on her way to the guillotine she stepped on her executioner’s foot.

“Pardon me, monsieur. I did not to that on purpose.”

Leonardo Da Vinci

“I have offended God and mankind b/c my work did not reach the quality it should have.” Right. Mona Lisa could have been prettier.

Buddy Rich, a famous drummer, in 1987 on his way into a surgery he would not survive was asked by a nurse; “Is there anything you can’t take?”

“Yeah, country music.”

Elvis, couldn’t sleep on night in 1977 and said to his fiance’,

“I’m going to the bathroom to read.”

She said, “Don’t fall asleep.”

His reply, “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

And, we all know who said this:

“Hey bubba, watch this! Hold my beer.”

Some anonymous redneck who immediately after removed his genes from the gene pool.

Last words can teach lasting lessons b/c they are based on a lifetime of education and experience.

John was the youngest of the 12 disciples. He was a teenager when Jesus invited him to follow. And, he lived the longest of all the disciples and wrote the latest. He wrote his gospel, 3 short epistles, and Revelation.

He had the benefit of more life experience to base his message on. Think about what he saw. Not just Jesus’ death and resurrection. But, he witnessed every other disciple and early church leader die in painful ways.

He saw the church explode in growth throughout the middle east, Asia and Europe.

Of all the things he could have written about, the bulk of what he wrote was about the relationships we have with God and each other.

The bulk of what he wrote was about the relationships we have with God and each other.

They are the highest priorities we should have. .

2 Timothy is the last letter Paul wrote that we have. Chapter 4 is the last chapter of the last letter. There are 5 significant lessons we can draw from this chapter that were based on his lifetime of education and experience.

Things that would have been so important to him as a young adult no longer carried the weight he had given them.

When you are in your 20s or 30s and you feel strongly that there are things you would die for, just know time and experience will temper those strong feelings.

We have the benefit of everything Paul wrote that was preserved by God for our bible.

Consider carefully the content and the context of the communication contained in these final words of Paul to his young protege Timothy, the church in Ephesus, and to us.

5 Important lessons from the last chapter of the last letter Paul wrote.

Judge

2 Timothy 4:1 NIV

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

This is intended to be motivational. Not necessarily as a threat, be afraid of the judge and judgment coming.

But, more positive, look forward to what Jesus has for you when he evaluates your work on earth.

For teachers, there is additional responsibility for our students to be rewarded to their full potential. And, for students, be encouraged to learn and apply this to gain the full potential of what Jesus offers.

As proof, Jesus appeared once. He will again at the judgment seat where we will all stand one day. Future promises based on past events that the HS was in the process of fulfilling at the present.

Lean into God’s future for you. Present actions will have an impact on future rewards. Take care of business now.

No one will circumvent God’s process. Those who pass before Jesus’ return as well as those still alive to see it will all stand before the judge.

Those who have believed in and received life from Jesus as well as those who haven’t we stand there.

All will be judged by what we do in this life on earth.

Did you ever forget to reward or punish your kids? Or, did your parents ever forget you?

If I didn’t get my allowance I was quick to remind them.

But, I would plead w/ God for them to forget what I had done wrong so they’d never get around to the punishment.

It never seemed to work.

A lifetime goes by and we wonder if God will ever really get around to rewarding us as He promised. He will.

Understand, faith alone will save you. Just believe in and receive Jesus as your Savior and be assured of your eternal salvation. That said, behavior is based on belief.

IOW, how we act is determined by what we believe t/b true. We may or may not be kidding ourselves in the way we live our lives. But, there’s no snowing God.

If I don’t believe that chair will hold me up then I’m not sitting in it. If I do, it’s b/c I’m sure it will.

I’m sure Jesus will hold me up forever so I will always rest in Him and work for Him.

A good teacher would never test his students on material he never made available to them. God is as good as there is.

That’s what’s behind the second lesson and is in Paul’s charge to Timothy. It’s a repeated theme in this letter. And, anything that’s repeated is done so for emphasis.

The Word

2 Timothy 4:2–5 NIV

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

You might get the idea that Paul thinks the bible is important. He wrote about it in ch.2, 3, and now 4.

There are so many things I could preach about. Good moral lessons, life events, and life stories.

But, Timothy’s responsibility, like mine, is to teach the bible. God preserved this for centuries for us. This is where He reveals Himself to us and teaches why He does what He does.

And, why we do what we do and what we need to do to correct it.

We can go out into nature and see God in His creation. But, what you won’t get in the forest is the importance of redemption and power of the resurrection to bring us to life.

This is an important charge to both the teachers and the students. This verse is the mission verse of my seminary.

Preach the Word. Be ready in season and out. Whether it’s convenient or not. What they want to hear, or not.

This is a partial repeat of what he wrote in ch.3 about what the Word is to be used for. It’s for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.

And, who likes to be rebuked and corrected? None of us like to be told what we’re doing is wrong. It’s offensive. I will be offended if you confront me to correct me. Even if what I’m doing needs to be confronted and corrected.

The warning is clear. Again, the day is coming when people will not want to be told that what they are doing needs corrective action and t/b atoned for.

“Please just encourage me and tell me I’m okay.”

Don’t tell me I’m going to die for my beliefs and actions or that somebody else died for them. I feel strongly about them.

And, maybe Hitler was just misunderstood. I’m sure he felt strongly about his belief system, too.

When Paul says they “won’t put up w/ sound doctrine”, he means they ‘ll be bored w/ it.

Are there passages that bore us? Come on now! Be honest. Do we have the maturity to study and listen for truth in passages that are hard?

The word is powerful, words have definitions and they can’t be manipulated. Myths can be. Change words, change meanings to fit what ppl want them to say.

This places the ppl in authority over the Word versus placing God’s Word in authority over ppl.

I will rebel against all authority in my life. It’s my nature. I don’t like being subordinate.

I will push back against the elders.

I’ll push back against my wife even when she’s right to push against me.

I’ll push back against my dog when he tries to train me.

None of us like authority. But, God and His word are gracious authority in our life that brings life and leads us to better places.

To all of us; be patient, be careful, sound doctrine, keep our heads. Engage our minds and don’t be afraid of facing corrective teaching. Don’t lose control, don’t get emotional.

There are ppl all around us that need what the Word provides. It is authoritative and will point out weaknesses and mistakes. But, it it gracious, forgiving, and empowering; just like its ultimate author.

Do the work of an evangelist, connect ppl who are lost and dying w/ the Giver of life and purpose that’s found in the Word.

Paul has been doing this all of his life and is calling Timothy to do the same. He did it for a long time in the face of strong opposition. He did. Timothy did. We can, too.

The next lesson Paul brings up is the encouragement to Finish Strong.

Finish Strong

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NIV

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:13 NIV

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:

Paul knew he was not going to live much longer. We don’t know how he knew, but he did.

He wrote earlier about running the race to win, according to the rules and w/ hard work. He was still at it. He was not coasting to his finish line.

Timothy has known Paul for some time. But, there are young believers who only know an older Paul who’s only been in prison, never free.

What kind of legacy would he leave these young believers?

Quit when it gets hard, quit in the end? Play out the string of days as if they don’t matter? Not a chance.

He finished as strong or stronger than he started.

Our kids have known their grandparents for years. But, these are the years of their grandparents’ lives they will remember the most.

What will your grandkids remember about you in the final years of your life? Still faithful? Still strong? Still a student of God? Or, are you just waiting to die?

Paul was certain about what came next. He was not anxious nor wavering in the assurance of his reservation at the table for the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Not only did he have a reservation, he would be rewarded for his work on earth. It didn’t faze him that he had hunted down Christians and executed them in the name of Judaism early in his adult life.

He knew a gracious God who knew him from the time he was born. And, during the dash his faith became strong and it was a time that accomplished a great deal for the kingdom.

The dash between his birth date and his death date.

Obviously, his death will leave a void, a gap. But from the beginning of the church, gaps like these have been filled by ppl God called to continue the work. In Paul’s case, Timothy would be one who would fill the gap in Paul’s place. But, there were others we’ve never heard of and won’t until we get to heaven to meet them.

And, he never stopped studying. The scrolls and parchments were his personal copies of the Scriptures. They might have even been the very copies he had when Jesus met him in the wilderness to teach personally before he embarked on his own ministry.

They would have included his notes in the margins as Jesus spoke and led him to find Jesus in the OT passages that were the basis for his own writing that is included in our NT.

Never stop studying. Always allow God’s Word to have authority over you to comfort you and change you until the day you stand before Jesus yourself. And, as you help prepare those who will stand in the gap you leave, God will speak to you for what they need as you study for yourself.

As he studied, one of the lessons he see repeated throughout the scroll and parchments is that life is too short to hold grudges. Jesus died for him and was prepared to forgive him long before Paul ever acknowledged Jesus as Savior.

Forgiveness. A discipline Paul taught and practiced on his own.

Forgive

2 Timothy 4:9–16 NIV

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.

Mark! Get Mark b/c he was helpful to him.

They had a history. Barnabas and Paul took Mark w/ them on one of their journeys. And, he quit on them. He ran home to his mother.

Paul didn’t trust him after that. He couldn’t be counted on.

Before they started their next journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark again and give him another chance. The argument between Paul and Barnabas over Mark was so severe it severed the partnership.

They could not agree. Paul picked up Silas and went on his way. Barnabas took Mark to a less stressful place where he was able to restore him to God’s service.

Mark ended up writing his own book that is included in our bible, the gospel of Mark.

And, here, Paul had come to the place where Mark was important to him and helpful again. Paul was able to get past Mark’s past performance and the rift it caused between him and his partner who mentored him into ministry.

Barnabas was the first to accept Paul as a brother and co-worker after his Damascus Road experience.

Many could not have made it past these events to restore a relationship and new partnership in ministry.

Alexander. Did a great deal of harm to Paul and his ministry. We don’t know what it was. But, what we do know is Paul did not harbor any desires to get even w/ him. Paul put this in the hands of God and let it go himself.

When someone does something horribly wrong to us or someone we love the desire to get even is strong.

It is impossible to forgive when we hold onto these strong feelings. The only way to get past them and forgive the person is by letting God handle whatever needs t/b done.

There is a sense of fairness. This deserves that. And, we can accept it and get past it when we let God handle it.

And, when he stood to make his defense no one joined him to stand w/ him in support.

Imagine, he stood before the judge, looked around to see if any of his friends, fellow believers, church members would be there. No one. All alone.

And, what does he say? “May it not be held against them.”

Just like Jesus, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”

Life is too short to hold grudges. A grudge only hurts the one holding it. The one it’s held against may have no idea it exists.

Let the hurts go and let God handle whatever needs to be done to make things right. Forgive even if it isn’t deserved.

Though, on the one hand Paul was alone in his defense. On the other, he absolutely was not alone. He never was. Even when He was in the deepest, darkest dungeon. Someone was always w/ Him.

And, that Someone is always w/ us.

This is last lesson we get from Paul’s last words. And, they may be the most valuable to apply and hold onto.

Never Alone

2 Timothy 4:17–18 NIV

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In those times when we are in our deepest and darkest places, Jesus is always w/ us. We never face these things alone.

David wrote that when we walk thru the valley of the shadow of death our Shepherd is always w/ us. So that we get thru it. Never stuck in it.

He’s also there to point out it the shadows that scare us. Whatever is casting the shadow He’s already defeated.

And, shadows aren’t really all that scary when the light is there.

No doubt standing alone to make a defense was frustrating, discouraging, maybe even demoralizing. But, it’s in those dark times that we find out just how bright our Savior is when He saves us from them.

We don’t know how much strength we have until we have to use it.

From time to time we hear of football players who life cars off ppl trapped under them. Did they know they could do that before they did it?

Do you know what you’re capable w/ the strength of God that resides inside you until you need to do it?

The Lord is always faithful. He is even more faithful to us than we ever are to Him.

Again, w/ the assurance that a man who falters from time to time will be saved by a perfect God and provided a place to spend all eternity in the presence of Holy God.

Is this not the most important lesson we can take from all these important lessons from Paul’s last words.

5 lessons from Paul’s last words that will keep us strong until and after we see Jesus face to face.

Applications

Finish

Finish strong. Wherever you are right now and however far away the end might be. Finish strong.

There are ppl watching you to see if your faith will falter when you need it most. That will be when you stand on death’s door. Be strong to the end.

Leave a wide gap t/b filled. Make it hard for those who follow to fill the gap you leave.

But also, help prepare those who will fill that gap.

One of my goals is to make it as hard as possible for you to replace me. But then, do everything I can to help.

Is your faith faltering? Strengthen it. Choose to focus on Jesus not the storm.

What can you do to widen the gap you’ll leave?

Forgive

Give up getting even and let God do it. He’ll do it better than you ever could any way.

Don’t wait to be apologized to. Let the grudge go. It’s only hurting you, and shrinking the gap you’re leaving.

Face Him

Sometimes when we feel all alone we’re simply facing the wrong direction.

Turn around. B/C we’re never alone, ever. God is always w/ you giving you the strength you need to deal successfully w/ the situation you’re in.

You may not even know how strong you are until you need it and have to use it. But, it’s there b/c Jesus is there w/ you.

Famous last words.

“Hey bubba, watch this!”

And, God will be there to reward you;

The Word is here to teach you;

You can finish as strong or stronger than you began;

You can forgive everyone who hurts you;

And, God will never leave you alone.

That’s 2 Timothy. Next week we start 2 Peter which happens t/b the last words of Peter that we have.