STRENGTH FOR THE FINAL JOURNEY (2 Timothy 4:9-22 February 11, 2007)

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1 STRENGTH FOR THE FINAL JOURNEY (2 Timothy 4:9-22 February 11, 2007) Death is something that every one of us will face at some time. Our death may be quick and easy but for most of us it will be slower and often quite messy. But God in His wisdom has give us aids, strength for this final journey. Aids that make this merely a final transition from this dying world to eternal life. So, what is that the great men of the faith have looked for to help them as death approaches? Charles Wesley wanted two things. First, to write one last poem. He was too weak to write himself so he asked his wife to write. His last poem was this: In age and feebleness extreme Who shall a sinful worm redeem? Jesus, my only hope thou art, Strength of my failing flesh and heart; Oh, could I catch a smile from thee, And drop into eternity! He wanted to express his faith that eternity was his only because of Jesus. He wanted to go home. The other thing he wanted was to be surrounded by his family as he died. On March 29, 1788 as his hand lay on that of his daughter, Sarah, with all his family gathered around him Charles Wesley died. Another inspiring death for me is that of George Whitefield. As death approached, his last acts were to preach the gospel and read the Bible. 1

2 He arrived in Newburyport quite ill. But he would not refuse the opportunity to preach. A large crowd gathered at the house in which he was staying and holding a candle in one hand he stood on the stairs and preached Christ and Him crucified until the candle had burned out. He went up to his room and began reading from the Psalms and praying. He told his friend, I would rather wear out than rust out. Soon after he left this world for glory. Family, friends, the Scriptures, faith in God these are what the great men of the church have asked for to strengthen them for the final journey. It is amazing to me how constant are the desires of godly men and women when the end comes. In our passage this morning the last words we know of that came from the pen of the Apostle Paul with death approaching the old missionary looks to three last aids. Three strengths for the final journey. The presence of family The comfort of Scripture The strength of God Some years after leaving Timothy in Ephesus Paul had ended up in Rome. We are unsure the exact sequence of events leading to his arrest and imprisonment. 2

3 The fact he left his cloak and scrolls at Troas probably indicate that he was in Troas when he was arrested. We know that after his arrest, Paul was taken to Rome where he received a preliminary hearing where he was judged guilty and was just waiting his final trial and then execution. It was now just a matter of time. The wheels of the Roman legal system were grinding. Paul would die and he knew it. He wrote this great letter 2 Timothy to his beloved son in the faith to encourage him to persevere and stay faithful to the end. But the last part of this letter is more personal. Paul talks about those things that will aid him in his last days. As I read over these verses it struck me that these are exactly what I would want to help me through my last days. So what will provide strength for the final journey? 3

4 First, the presence of family. Look with me at 2 Timothy 4:9-12: 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. Paul knew that the end was coming and he wanted those nearest and dearest to him by his side. He had no earthly family but he had many spiritual sons in the faith. And the ones he wanted with him at the end were Luke, Mark and Timothy. Paul asks Timothy Do your best to come to me quickly. Quickly is a relative term. 4

5 Timothy is in Ephesus. He asks him to travel by land up to Troas to get his cloak and scrolls and then to find a ship that would take him to Rome. Almost certainly Timothy would have travelled up to Troas, taken a ship across the Aegean Sea, moved on up to the Egnatian Way, followed it barely stopping at churches on the way like Philippi and Thessalonica. He would have kept going to Dyracchium and then crossed to Adriatic Sea to Italy landing at Brindisi and then continuing overland up to Rome. It is estimated that this trip would take Timothy at the very least 3 months most likely 4 months and depending on weather and availability of ships up to 6 months or even more. Winter made shipping on the Mediterranean quite dangerous, so ships didn t sail between November and March. Let me put a few things in perspective. Paul wrote this letter and sent it with Tychicus from Rome to Ephesus. It would take Tychicus around 3 months, possibly as long as 5

6 6 months to get from Rome to Ephesus. Timothy would take a little while to tidy up his affairs brief Tychicus about the church and then 3-6 months to get to Rome. So at the very least under the best scenario it would be at least 6 months from the time Paul wrote 2 Timothy to the time Timothy arrived in Rome and much more likely it would take 8 or 9 months and possibly a whole year or more. Both Paul and Timothy had to know that Paul may well be dead before Timothy arrived. His journey might be in vain. If Paul knew for sure that Timothy would be there before his execution he would not have needed to write such a detailed exhortation to stay faithful. But Paul knew Timothy might not arrive in time and he had to give this charge to his son in the faith. And depending on how long Timothy was in Rome he would probably be away from his pastoral duties in Ephesus for over a year. I am going to be away from my duties here for 6 weeks in March and April and it feels too long and the amount of planning to be away for that time is huge. This request to come quickly says a great deal about the relationship between Paul and Timothy. It is a monumental request to ask Timothy to come to Rome quickly. Yet I am sure Timothy never gave it a moments thought he wanted to be with Paul. He would move heaven and earth to get to Rome quickly. And Paul not only wanted Timothy to come he knew he would come. And Paul wanted Timothy to come because he wanted his son in the faith with him at the last. There were Christians there with him if you look at verse 21 he lists the saints who send their greeting but Paul wants family those spiritual sons dear to his heart. Crescens, Titus and Tychicus were sent on matters to do with ministry. Tychicus was sent to Ephesus. Presumably he carried this letter 2 Timothy and presumably he would stay and minister in the church while Timothy went to Rome. But one other son in the faith had deserted him. Demas who was once a son but was now a prodigal son. He had deserted Paul in his hour of need. Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Once Demas was a trusted son in the faith. In Philemon 24 he is called a fellow worker with Paul alongside Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke pretty good company. In Colossians 4:14 he says: Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 6

7 It seems that when the temperature in Rome rose Demas left. He loved this world. Verse 16 indicates Demas would not put himself at risk by standing with Paul at his trial. He chose not to remain by the side of a condemned man. He too might face the wrath of Nero and if you love this world death is not gain. So he left Paul and went to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Crescens and Titus were sent on missionary business only Luke dependable, faithful Luke was there. Luke had been with Paul through every persecution and trial he was there at the last. The only close son the only spiritual family the only one of those who had been with Paul for years who was there was Luke. Paul was thankful for that but he wanted two more sons to join him before he died. He wanted Timothy to come and he asked him to: Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. On his first missionary journey young Mark had deserted Paul. It also led to a split with Barnabas. But later this rift had been healed. By the time Paul wrote Colossians Mark was listed alongside Luke as a fellow-worker. And now, at the end of his days he is one of the handful of men Paul wants to stand by him as death approaches. This was his family. Bonds formed in the cauldron of ministry. Friendships forged in persecution and victory. These were the men Paul wanted to see one last time on earth to pray with to sing hymns with to read Scripture with to reminisce with to talk about heaven with. Men he trusted to keep reminding him of the victory of Jesus. It is family you want with you at the last. Jonathan Edwards arrived in Princeton to take up his new role as President. He arrived before his dear wife Sarah and most of his family. Soon after arriving he had a smallpox injection and suffered complications. He knew he was dying and it is clear that he longed for his family to be with him. They would not arrive before death took him. His daughter Lucy was there. He gave her this message to pass on to his family: 7

8 Dear Lucy, it seems to me to be the will of God, that I must shortly leave you; therefore give my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her, that the uncommon union, which has so long subsisted between us, has been of such a nature, as I trust is spiritual, and therefore will continue for ever: and I hope she will be supported under so great a trial, and submit cheerfully to the will of God. And as to my children, you are now like to be left fatherless; which I hope will be an inducement to you all, to seek a Father who will never fail you. And as to my funeral, I would have it to be like Mr. Burr s; and any additional sum of money, that might be expected to be laid out that way, I would have it disposed of to charitable uses. He then dictated letters to his dear wife and family and friends. Soon after it was though he had died, but he roused to utter his last words, Trust in God, and ye need not fear. When death is approaching who do you want there by your side? Who is it that you long to see, to pray with, to be encouraged by? You want your family. This includes your flesh and blood family wife or husband, children, grandchildren. But there will also be those God-sent friends partners in ministry, mentors in the faith, sons or daughters in the faith, co-labourers for Christ those who are every inch part of your family. When word reached Timothy of Paul s impending death, to spend a short time with the old man would mean a year or more of his life. Eight months of hard travel, time away from his ministry and he might arrive too late. Timothy went. Paul knew he would go. Clement of Rome tells us that Timothy and Mark did make it to Rome in time. They joined Luke in ministering to Paul and stood with Paul as he was beheaded at the Ostian Gate. Who are your Timothys? Who are those men and women who love you and will sacrifice to see you and be with you at the end? Who are those you want to read with you and pray with you and sing with you and tell you of the glories of God? Husbands and wives I trust that your relationship with your spouse and your kids is such that they would want to be there. And I pray that the relationship is one of faith so it is a time of joy at your going home receiving the crown of righteousness. Who are your Timothys? Those who are not related to you by flesh and blood but those who are true sons and daughters true co-labourers in the faith. Not the Demas who desert you at the end the Timothys. These friendships are one of the greatest earthly joys and they are a great strength for the final journey. 8

9 Who will put their life on hold to encourage you in death? Cultivate those friendships. There are a handful of men and couples that I count a privilege to consider true brothers and sisters in Christ and for them I am eternally grateful. I trust you have those friendships that will sustain you at the end. That brings us to the second great encouragement that will provide strength for the final journey? The comfort of Scripture. Look at verse 13: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. It seems that Paul had been at the home of Carpus in Troas when he was arrested. He had left a number of possessions there principally his cloak and his scrolls. The cloak was a heavy outer garment made from goat hair or coarse wool that gave warmth in winter and was used as a covering at night in the colder months. Most men only owned one cloak. The fact Paul left his cloak and scrolls in Troas indicates he was either arrested there or was on a short journey and intending to return there. Either way, Paul finds himself in Rome. It is probably the end of winter there now and Paul wants to make sure that if he has to go through another winter he has his cloak. But what he really wants are his scrolls. 9

10 What are these scrolls and parchments? While there is some debate, scrolls probably is a reference to writings written on papyrus and then wound around wooden stakes. Parchments probably refers to writings on animal skins sown into a book called a codex. Paul is saying bring the scrolls and parchments but if it is too much just bring the parchments. Timothy is coming quickly. Paul would dearly love to have all of his scrolls and parchments but if Timothy can only bring some bring the parchments. There has been much debate as to what is on the scrolls and parchments. Most agree that the scrolls probably contained the Old Testament. The parchments are a bit harder. Some said they were blank Paul wanted them to write final letters to friends. Others think they contained a collection of the New Testament writings written to that point. Paul s own letters the early gospels and letters of others. Since Paul especially asked for these I tend to think they probably contained his beloved Greek translation of the Old Testament. I think Paul wanted to read the Scriptures in his final days. They were precious to him. Verses 14 and 15 give us an idea of how precious: 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. These verses are somewhat difficult to understand and knowing why Paul put them here is also difficult. Let me give you the most likely understanding. We met Alexander back in 1 Timothy 1:20 when Paul spoke of false teachers, among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, who he handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. Paul excommunicated Alexander. Alexander has a beef with Paul and with his gospel. And it seems Alexander looked for a way to gain a measure of revenge. Also important to note is that the verb the NIV translates did a great deal of harm is also often commonly used of bringing a legal accusation. 10

11 So some commentators translate verse 14 like this: Alexander the metalworker is the one who brought the charges against me that led to my arrest. Most likely Alexander did this in Troas. Now Timothy is going there to pick up Paul s cloak and parchments. So he warns Timothy to be on his guard lest Alexander who opposes our message brings charges against him as well. Paul is warning Timothy about a potential danger. But, the parchments are so precious to Paul that it is worth the risk. Paul still wants Timothy to go to Troas and get the parchments. I understand his desire to have the parchments. If I were dying I the only earthly possession I would want is my Bible. It is where comfort and hope and blessing are found. If I am dying and reach the point where I can t read any more then please, come and read to me. There are so many parts of the Word that are balm and comfort to the dying saint. Reminders of God s faithfulness and glory. Read me the Psalms. Start at Psalm 1 and don t stop. Read me Revelation 4, 5, 20, 21 and 22 these great pictures of heaven the place I am going. Read me 1 Corinthians 15 the resurrection of the body. Death where is your sting. Read me Romans 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He will give life to your mortal bodies. God works all things together for good. Nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. That is food for the dying soul. As well, you can read me the great hymns of the faith And can it be, Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Great Thou Art. The closer death comes the more precious the promises of God become. As death approached for Martin Lloyd-Jones he asked to see his family and his closest friends in the ministry. 11

12 He ordered his affairs by writing final words of encouragement to friends in the ministry across the world. Then, as he neared the end his doctor said, It grieves me to see you sitting here weary, worn and sad. Lloyd Jones stirred to say his last words, Not sad! Not sad! Soon he could no longer talk. He called over his wife Bethan. He wanted to hear the Scriptures. She read. At one point, he stopped her and pointed in the Bible to 2 Corinthians 4:16-17: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory His daughter, Elizabeth, asked him, Is that your experience now? He nodded with great vigour. He called for a piece of paper and wrote: Do not pray for healing. Do not hold me back from the glory. Soon after he died. He wanted to hear the Scriptures. I want to die with the promises of God in my ears. I want to be reminded that God who cannot lie has told us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As death approaches I am sure that the sins of a lifetime would threaten to undermine my assurance. A voice would whisper that I am not good enough for heaven. It is then I need to hear: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8 Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. I am sure that Paul wanted to hear the Word and read the Word and claim the Word. He was like David who cried: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. 12

13 The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Ps. 19:7-10. The Scriptures are a great blessing on that final journey. That brings us to the third great encouragement that will provide strength for the final journey? The strength of God. Look at verses 16-18: At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 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. The Roman legal system was quite complex. When a charge was laid against someone there was an initial hearing the prima actio. This is usually held before a magistrate but can even be held before the emperor. Witnesses would be called evidence heard and the magistrate decides whether there is enough evidence for a trial the secunda actio the proper trial. Prisoners found guilty in the prima actio were imprisoned and had to wait quite some time for a trial date for the secunda actio. Unless new evidence was found those found guilty at the prima actio usually found themselves guilty at the trial proper. 13

14 Paul, knew that once the wheels of Roman justice brought him to trial he would be found guilty and die soon after. It was just a matter of time. He would not renounce the gospel. But here we learn that at his first defence the prima actio no one came to his support, but everyone deserted him. This word deserted is the one used of Demas in verse 10. We assume that men like Luke and Tychicus were not there at the time of the prima actio. But those who were there and we assume Demas was deserted Paul. To stand with Paul may well mean to join Paul in death. Paul was clearly disappointed. A son in the faith turning away at his time of need. But he understood that men have moments of weakness and he prayed that it would not be held against them. But what strengthened Paul was the fact that God was with him. The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. God empowers us when we need it. He gives us a vision of eternity. He encourages us to stay firm. He lets us stand against any earthly power. He made sure that Paul did not veer away at the last moment. When we need His strength in times of persecution, in the pain of cancer, in the confusion of dementia God will be there. Even more, He gave Paul voice to preach the truth. Through me the message was fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles heard it. Paul took his trial as an opportunity not to deny the gospel but to proclaim it. Preaching the gospel put him on trial he would not deny the truth at the end. I think of Nicholas Ridley, the bishop of London, who was tried before the Queen s Commissioners. He refused to recant his belief in salvation by faith. Instead he took the opportunity to proclaim: 14

15 I most heartily thank your lordship [but] I perfectly know [this truth] to be grounded, not in man s imaginations and decrees, but upon the infallible truth of Christ s gospel. Paul also said: And I was delivered from the lion s mouth. This is probably a metaphor for a violent death. Perhaps the magistrate had wanted a speedy trial to get rid of Paul but Paul was granted time to see his sons in the faith again. Paul s fate was in God s hands not any earthly judge. And he continues with his faith in God: 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. Paul knows his deliverance from the lion s mouth is only temporary. His final deliverance form every evil attack is to be taken safely to God s heavenly kingdom. The end of life can be messy. Spiritual attacks, persecution. Physical problems dementia, pain, suffering. But there is an end and the comfort is that God will end the pain and take us home to glory. To receive the crown of righteousness. To live is Christ, to die is gain. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Paul knows that when the end comes God will be there with us. He will give us the strength to get through those last days those last trials and then He will take us home. Lady Jane Grey became Queen of England at the age of 15 for nine days and was killed months later. She was a godly young woman. Queen Mary offered her a full reprieve if she would convert to Catholicism. Many other leaders in the reformation had accepted this offer and saved themselves by turning their back on the Lord. Jane prayed and asked God to strengthen her Arm me, I beseech Thee, with Thy armour, that I may stand fast. God answered that prayer. 15

16 In a final attempt to convert her to Catholicism, a public debate was organised between Jane and the well-known Dr Feckenham. This young 16 year old girl awaiting her death, stood firm and demolished this doctor of the church. Dr Feckenham was greatly moved by this girl. He said, I am sorry for you, for I am sure we two shall never meet. Lady Jane took the opportunity to proclaim Christ. She replied, True it is, that we shall never meet, except God turn your heart; for I am assured, unless you repent and turn to God, you are in evil case. And I pray God, in the bowels of mercy, to send you His Holy Spirit for He hath given you His great gift of utterance that it may please Him also to open the eyes of your heart. Her final words from the scaffold were these: I pray you all to bear me witness that I die a true Christian woman, and that I look to be saved by none other means but only by the mercy of God, in the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ, casting far behind me all the merits of my own actions, as things so short of my true duty. She recited the 51 st Psalm and was beheaded aged God strengthened her to the end. Brothers and sisters when the end comes God will be with you. No matter what the final trial is He will be there to guide you through it. Finally, Paul sends a few final greetings. Verses 19-22: Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Despite all of his trials in Ephesus Timothy was not alone. Good men and women who loved the Lord were in that church. Priscilla Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. It seems Erastus and Trophimus set out to accompany Paul to Rome. Paul lets Timothy know Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Then there is final encouragement to come before winter to bring the cloak and but even more because if Timothy delayed winter would delay him further. Transportation on the Mediterranean was stopped during winter November through March so Timothy had to get there fast. 1 Derived from The Royal Household of Henry VIII Part Four: Tenacity of Faith Lady Jane Grey, Sword and Trowel, 1998 no. 1, pp

17 And despite the desertions there were still saints with Paul. Eubulus Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. And then a final word of encouragement. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy and the church in Ephesus to stay true. Writing to his congregation from prison, Bunyan had a similar hope. He wrote: Thus have I, in a few words, written to you before I die, a word to provoke you to faith and holiness, because I desire that you may have the life that is laid up for all them that believe in the Lord Jesus, and love one another, when I am deceased. 2 Brothers and sisters. Every one of us must cross the river of death. Like Paul, like Bunyan I want you to be ready. For some it will be rapid. Car accident, heart attack, the rapture. For most it will be a slower time. Old age, cancer, maybe prison and execution. Look again at these three strengths for the final journey. The presence of family The comfort of Scripture The strength of God This is what will ease you from this world to the next. But, they are not to be used like a parachute unused until needed. They are lifelong blessings that find great power at the end. If you are not developing wonderful, deep, spiritual relationships with family and friends the depth of their comfort to you at the end will be minimal. If you are not savouring Scripture and meditating on the promises and finding strength in it now then at the end they will not be a familiar friend they may be distant and strange. If you are not drawing close to God now you may not find His strength with you at the end. But, if these strengths for the final journey are part of your life they will always be with you. 2 Cited in John Piper, The Hidden Smile of God, (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001) p

18 And then you will be like the aged Andrew Marshall, who was dying and sent a message to relatives in New England: Tell them that I am yet in the land of the dying, but am bound to the land of the living. 3 That is what death is. A final easing from the land of the dying and entering the land of the living. And these wonderful aids will light the way. 3 Cited in Iain H. Murray, Revival and Revivalism, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1994), p