Preparing to Depart

Introduction:

Last week we saw the urgency of charging Timothy before the God-head to preach the word. The reason for such urgency seems to be revealed here in tonight’s scripture as Paul, ready to depart this earthly existence, unveils for Timothy that he too must keep in mind that a day of reckoning is approaching. Therefore Timothy, you prepare for this day by persevering in your faith, and completing the ministry committed to you.

We also, like Timothy, must realize that a day of reckoning is approaching for us as well, and we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of the deeds done in the body. Therefore, we also must persevere in our faith in order to engage in preparing for departure.

Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Main Idea: Perseverance in Faith Prepares Us for Our Departure to Meet Jesus, the Righteous Judge.

1. The Sacrifice of Perseverance (vv. 6-7)

a) Sacrifice of being poured out as a drink offering (v. 6)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering

For, the coordinated conjunction alerting us that further explanation is about to take place with regard to the previous verses

Philippians 2:17 ESV

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Numbers 15:1–10 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you, 3 and you offer to the Lord from the herd or from the flock a food offering or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing aroma to the Lord, 4 then he who brings his offering shall offer to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil; 5 and you shall offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, a quarter of a hin of wine for the drink offering for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you shall offer for a grain offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. 7 And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 8 And when you offer a bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9 then one shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Drink Offering - a measure of wine (hin - little more then a gallon), poured out with the animal sacrifice (proportional to the size of the animal) when fulfilling a vow, giving a freewill offering, or as a part of appointed feasts.

As it was gradually poured out as the final act of the entire sacrificial ceremony, it symbolized the gradual ebbing away of the life of the sacrifice and the completeness of the ceremony.

Jesus describes this when he took the cup of wine in Luke 22:20:

Luke 22:20 ESV

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

John 19:34 ESV

34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

Thus the apostle Paul uses it as a symbol of himself providing a sweet aroma to God as his life ebbs away slowly, completing the final act of being a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

the time (season) of my departure has come

The Pastoral Epistles In Three Tenses Paul, the Lord’s Prisoner, Triumphantly Expresses His Faith

The word season (καιρός) is entirely proper in this connection, for: a. the apostle is thinking not only of the moment of execution but of this entire final imprisonment which was about to end in execution; and b. he views this final period under the symbolism of the unmooring of a ship which in its coming and going is bound to the seasons (cf. Acts 27:12).

b) Sacrifice of being in battle and fighting to the end (v. 7a)

A beautiful, grand, or noble fight which he had fought to completion

Battle against the flesh and sin

Battle against the enemy Satan and his army

Battle against discouragement and anxiety

c) Sacrifice of running and finishing the race (v. 7b)

This was not a path of chance but a scheduled race of divine origin and now the race is complete.

Paul gives glory to the grace of God that has kept his faith strong to the end.

2. The Award of Perseverance (v. 8)

a) Award is the crown of righteousness

Award vs. Reward

An award is an honor (such as a medal or trophy) that is conferred for merit, usually after a decision made by a committee of judges

A reward is something (usually money) given in return for a person's service, merit, hardship, etc.

Likely, this crown is one consisting of perfect righteousness-eternal life that is given the believer as the climax of the process of sanctification

b) Award given by Jesus, the righteous judge

Christ in His role as the judge who brings to completion the work He has begun in His elect (Phil 1:6).

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

c) Award given in the future when this life is over

1 Peter 5:4 ESV

4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

that Day - The Judgment Day

his appearing - Christ’s Second Coming (v. 1)

3. The Fellowship of Perseverance (v. 8)

a) Fellowship means that others will be awarded as well

not only to me but also to all - Paul’s award was not his exclusively

b) Fellowship is with all those who long for Christ’s return

who have loved his appearing - those who love Christ appearing are those who like Paul have prepared themselves to depart.

So What?

Are we actively engaged in the ministry that God has given us, persevering in our faith and ready at any time to leave this earth and stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ?

Is our motivation for ministry the desire to finish well, thus preparing for our departure?