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CHAPTER 5

CHARGE AT THE CROSS-ROADS

II Timothy 4

The Charge and the Challenge 4:1-5

Life at its end tends to express life at its source. If, as for Paul, it has time to speak, and as was the case for him, it has no ground for sophisticated subtleties, imperial deceits or vain show, and if further it has a reality to provide at its departure: then indeed, it may send a message conspicuous for clarity. Prevarications may at this time fail; obfuscations may become meaningless.

Often these are stripped as mortality arises to smite the fallen, or immortality shimmers its rays for hope's grasp and faith's content. With Paul, the inner light which had been linked to personal protection, restoration, enlivenment, achievement, power and peace, together with the dynamic drive and astonishing facility granted to him, was shining clearly. It was with that brilliance at sunset which covers with a sense of the presence of wonder; and its many colours made a gloaming that had both clarity and glory; for the Lord was near to him as always, and his supreme test was but an item in an itinerary both drafted in divinity and accompanied by the Lord. "I have finished the race!" he proclaimed (II Timothy 4:7), "I have kept the faith."

Such is the testimony of truth, when its light is undimmed; and though flesh is always prone to corrupt, yet by the Spirit Paul was enabled to overcome, for this is the victory, even your faith as John speaks in I John 5. The REALITY is there; it simply needs claiming by faith. Faith no more creates it than a baby's mouth creates its mother's bosom; but it uses it, and being confident, has no stay on its nurture.

Paul in this Ch. 4 of II Timothy shows the aura and awe of departure, like those of old, who had streamers, long and fluttering in the breezes, extending from ship to shore, last tentacles of touch for those who were moving to another land, as they left those still on the shore.

No such exultation of casual joy, however, in convivial journey wishes is present, for on the contrary, it is sword rather than streamers, that draws near. Paul at this time, as seen in II Timothy, the last of his epistles, is a prisoner; he is under legal assault, he has enemies, people flee from him, to whom his 'fate' seems assured, some like Demas finding it no more profitable to be with Paul at other times than these! Demas, said Paul, has forsaken me! (II Timothy 4:10). What is for such as he is, now, stumbling at the finale ? What then is the thought of such ? What matter miracles and power and truth, to such as he, whose nose savours now the more pleasant if temporary aromas that this world has on offer to vying bidders!

What then of this Demas ? He has left me, Paul declared to his 'son' in the faith, Timothy, "having loved this present world." To be sure it might be claimed that this was not very intelligent on the part of that renegade, for is not a a tiny particle of time in possible placement in plush circumstances, even that a lottery in itself for the godless, small recompense for the loss that never will cease!

There being only one God, Demas' departure from the trial which in terms of fidelity was also his own, was a breach from God also. In this, there is small recompense for the loss of eternity! Yet the LIFE demands what it will, and if this its desire, be for its own fulfilment, self-determined, so that it becomes as a branch hewn from some giant tree, an extension which might have stayed there for centuries, then such is its lurch to the ground. If then it MUST have its way, and in stretching too far out, cracks, breaks and is done, this its fracture, is the fate of its arrogance.

Many, long or short, want fulfilment of an idea, ideal, curse, revenge, self-adulation, social-adulation, sense of power or whatever it may be, at ANY cost. This is their LIFE, and having but one, they are determined that it be according to desire. As it is given to John to declare, THIS is their preference, to love darkness rather than light, schemas of their own rather than truth, their desires rather than the outcome of their design, lust more than life as prepared (John 3:19). THAT is why the intense, immense, flourishing love of God which engineered the virgin birth to enable the assassination of Christ to pay for sin, and His magnificence to be relayed direct to man who might see in Him the desire of the nations, and coming, find Him, a love which so far from coming to judge this world, operated rather to save it (John 3:17), so blighted and slighted, did not bring such as Demas here, to their proper home.

Faith or self-fulfilment become then options; and the 'self' may opt for ANYTHING as its surrogate, light for its mothiness. Some then simply measure their preference. Others, no less show it, though longing limply for eternity and the knowledge of God in whose power it lies; for these simply limp in lassitude, and are devoured, having no faith. Love is like that. If you turn from it, you are without it; and if you place your love of this or that above that of God, then you divorce from its source, like a lake, once filled with a stream of pure water, as if it elected to be separate, till it at length became a puddle, and then dried up completely.

Paul was not like that, having already been stamped with the seal of the Spirit (Ephesians 1), the guarantee of redemption complete (as in Romans 8:23), even that of the body. He had been led by the life of the Lord, and being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), found his life where it counts for ever, in the very presence of the propitiating Christ, through whose sacrificial death for him, he lived, and in whose risen life he walked, through whose constant impulse and impetus, he saw, understood and acted. Such is the life in Christ, though it has many tests, and may require various mountains to be moved, always by faith, not indeed as if that were the strength that did it, but as the contact which realised and released the divine power available by covenant, which ITSELF does the moving! (Ephesians 1:19, Mark 11:23ff.). Living with God is always by faith, and by covenant (you might almost say contract, except for this, that this may sound temporary, while this is neither temporary nor temporal, but eternal).

For all that, this divine covenant, that in Christ's blood (cf. Colossians 1:23, Matthew 26:28), it thrusts into time with truth and peace of heart, and to its inhabitants with love and life eternal, like a town-crier proclaiming peace from the King (Isaiah 52:7). To receive this and then to announce it, this was for Paul what the life of God provided. This being a vast responsibility, opportunity and privilege, the apostle was enabled to say to the Philippians, in speaking of certain expectations,

that it was:

"according to my earnest expectation and my hope

that in nothing I shall be ashamed

but with all boldness as always, so now also

Christ will be magnified in my body,

whether by life or by death."

Paul to Timothy, in the Second Epistle, is speaking from prison with vast conviction, enormous zeal and unambiguous zest. "I charge you ..., " he declares, "before God and the Lord Jesus Christ," avowing that it is He who "will judge the living and the dead," and stating WHEN, namely "at His appearing and His kingdom". What does the apostle, perhaps even there facing death (it was his last epistle), so charge ? It is what is vital, operationally necessary, a huge responsibility for young Timothy.

"Be ready to preach the word!" that is simple and clear. But is this to occur in some formal or even formalistic way only ? NOT at all. It is to be done "in season and out of season", for unlike certain fruit, this is ripe already, and its season is always. It is not some hollow sound, but far from this, it is to be with the object to CONVINCE, if necessary, to REBUKE (it is not a cough syrup spiritual aid work), EXHORT. It resembles in some ways a class for a professional examination: it is no kindness to be slack, to wink at error or evil, but mere irresponsibility.

Yet this is to be done "with all longsuffering and teaching." Just as it must be done, so it must be done in a continuance which does not fly off like a fly at the coming shadow of a hand (their mechanisms for this are amazingly brilliant and being studied for human adaptations in engineering), but suffers long. The subject may be scattery, emotional, abrupt, but the servant of the Lord has to continue as any good teacher should, except if there is manifest irregularity and folly, when rebuke may be necessary. Further, there must be a concerted effort to teach, to reach with reasoned presentation and aid to memory, with impact and thoughtful care.

Further, there is a mounting necessity for this. In due course, says the apostle, a certain pathology will press its evil wares. THEN (and it is of course now as in Matthew 24:24, II Peter 2), there will come a sort of fever, just as perhaps some cannot ABIDE certain food or drink. People will commonly then come to find sound doctrine detesable, odious, unthinkable, a base from which to vary.

They "will not endure" this sound spiritual food. Instead, desire and not duty, enterprise in innovation while not caring to prize what Christ has done, and who He is who saves, these will flourish like weeds, aggressive, invasive, or like a mouse plague in the heart. They will want to hear something different: their very ears will 'itch' for error! It is rather like a bad case of spiritual adolescence, but these include old hands attached to hardened hearts. Like facial acne, it leaves its mark all too clearly, though some like to pretend it is not there, both of those who have it, and of those who anti-biblically continue to join in fellowship with them (I Timothy 6, Romans 16:17, I Corinthians 5-6, Ephesians 4:25ff., Galatians 2:4-5).

They will be on the look-out for teachers of trespass, fellows of the university of untruth, lairds of the properties of vain philosophy, exiles from faith (cf. II Peter 2). Of high value to such will be teachers who can co-operate in roaming from redemption by free grace (II Timothy 1:8ff., Titus 3:3-7), so that they will hire MANY such, heap them up, as Paul declares, making multiple ripples in the waters of culture, like stones flung in by idle youth. Their task is to turn the ears of their hirers from the truth, make it even seem plausible if it were possible; and these will sing the lullaby of fables (II Timothy 4:4), dressed up as sound reality, such as secret plates not now visible, special works to compete with those of Christ's as the ground of salvation.

Are we not in the midst of just such activities ? They invent ideas, propose histories, never confirmed, never seen, never attested, lured by hope and stranded by self-will, yet glorying in their delusions (II Thessalonians 2:10), as those who are now subject to them BECAUSE they did not RECEIVE the love of the truth. This Paul is apt to declare! They manufacture words of deception to intrude, to add to or replace the word of God, though these additions be as substantial as the mist before the sun. They claim a special understanding, but its product is as wise as fairy-stories, as if everything made itself and salvation itself could be made by thought, as if a grass-hopper were to stamp its foot and consider it possible a universe would arrive, itself first given, gratis! Fables for doctrine, that is to be the way of it; and it is, whether these be naturalisitic or narcissistic.

THEREFORE, Timothy is charged to be watchful in his ministry. It is not a thing of rote, but of reality; and there is a war on, as people used sometimes in grave humour, to remind themselves during World War II. The gravity however surpassed the humour; for it was manifestly true, as here and wars tend to follow from as to lead to d decisions. In a war, it is necessary to know whose you are, where you are, why you are, and where you are going. If you fight without faith, it is fiasco; if without truth, it is a flare waning into the darkness. For the Christian, there are spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6), as the object is not to destroy but to save men's lives (Luke 9:56).

The Choice and the Crown 4:5-8

Paul for his part is close to his final run. He feels like a drink-offering being poured out, a free-will grant of his life for the glory of God: hence "my departure is at hand." For his part, "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith," and for him a "crown of righteousness awaits". Indeed, it is "laid up", kept and preserved like a sports trophy, available before its presentation. It is a crown of appreciation (Well done!), then of declaration (as in Romans 5:17) of a fact, and of appropriation (that he has taken the offer and so abiding, has been moved to victory - I John 5:1ff.), that of faith.

Yet this is not only for star performers, as if most will fail who so run; but on the contrary, it is for "all who have loved His appearing."

The Greek is "have loved". It refers to those who as in I John 5, have the Son, for "he who has the Son has life, and "he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." It is for all who take Him by faith, seeing that the God of heaven has loved man on earth,

	so much that He has sent His eternal Word in human form to APPEAR and SHOW His nature,
	so that Jew or Gentile, we may KNOW who He is, what He wants and what He gives,
	both in OFFERING eternal life personally (I John 1:1-4, 6:50ff., 5:24),
	and in demonstrating the power of God,
	not only in masses of extraordinary healings and in raising the dead,
	but in His own bodily resurrection (Acts 2, I Cor. 15).

Have YOU loved His appearing ? Does it fill the void in your life ? Is there one recognised, is there need felt, is He invited to fill it, as one who knocks on the door ? for be sure that only if His grace has found you out, will you hear! But if it is your desire, then receive Him, for this is to love His appearing; for who would FAIL to do so whose yearning is for this, whose heart longs for it and whose burden is met only thereby! What a grace is that of God, that it is not of our works, of will or heart or mind, on which we rest, but on HIS, and these, they are already DONE (as in Hebrews 9:12- 10:14), ONCE in ONE offering ONCE made, when He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

The Collapse, the Company and the Christ 4:9-16

As often happens to the believer, Paul is deserted. Athanasius, after whom a famous Church creed is named, had to suffer in this way five times, before his true teaching was seen to put down the evil error of Arius. What is a wind tunnel for except to find defects; and what is opportunity for except to avoid these and show forth the true function! We are all who believe in the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:36), given scope, and sometimes we least suspect it, when it is there, facing us.

Therefore says Paul, be READY. He himself had been forsaken in his imperial trial in Rome, he reveals, one Demas, apparently finding that when it comes to potential death, it is time to change horses: Christianity was for service of man, not of God, or at least had to include this, and the man in question was himself! Dear old Dr Luke stayed with Paul however, and he called for Mark, who after all, was "profitable for the ministry", a case of growth in the one and acknowledgement in the other (cf. Acts 15:36ff.).

Noted is Alexander the coppersmith who used the trial to aggravate the danger to Paul, flaming with vehemence against him, and Paul had to stand alone in the appointed trial at this point. However the Lord himself, always with him and directing his ways (cf. Acts 13:1ff., 18:9ff.), stood with him, that invisible and empowering source. Well does one remember this in Sydney's trial, at a New Zealand Presbytery and Assembly, when having to stand, and enabled to triumph in the Lord, whatever the people did: in one case triumphing in the result, in the other being left by one vote, as the Presbytery charged on its way to evil ruin.

In Christ's company ( I Peter 1:5-8, Ephesians 1:11, John 10:9,27-28), we find firstly,

	*the ineffaceable presence*, then,
	*the impenetrable protection* and thirdly,
	*the important preservation*:

that is provided in His life and truth.

The Conviction

Now comes the statement for the ages, of the apostle's conviction. The purpose of enabling Paul's ministry to the Gentiles to be completed (whether through his valour at this point and transmission to others, such as Timothy in good order, or through some remaining time allotted), being fulfilled, Paul can state that He "was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." He did not fail in speech, in demeanour, in reply, in testimony, in forthright and triumphant power, whatever the physical result. The Lord, he cried, who DID deliver him then, would so act for ever, for He

"will deliver me from every evil work

and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

To Him be glory forever and ever, Amen!"

As Paul wrought and taught for heaven, so to heaven he goes: THIS is the environment and heredity which counts; for as born again, this is Paul's heredity (adopted as a child of God as in Ephesians 1:4), and this is through His being predestinated, which in faith, he attests for one as for all (II Timothy 1:8ff.). Again, with "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27), acting within, that is likewise his final and conclusive environment in which he lives and serves, one over-arching all others in power and impact. Blessed are those so placed, in whom Christ is so placed, for whom His written word is a decree from heaven, and from whom their calling comes. Yet it is He who calls to ALL, crying, "Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart."

While the flame of war may disguise it, as if rats should seek to destroy a farm, yet the peace of the place and its godly endeavours are so not removed: merely tested. Blessed the farm by Christ invested! From every evil work God will preserve. "The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be to you. Amen," Paul concludes.

Yet let us note this, that he had a strong request to make of Timothy to "get Mark and bring him with you." Things were to be brought. Thus we are reminded to be AGILE in meeting perceived godly need. We are to seek to be consistent in our love, reliable. Likewise we are to avoid deceptive foxes, wolves in sheep's clothing and spiritual frauds (4:14 cf. the "savage wolves" of Acts 20: 28-29). From Demas we learn to avoid worldliness which as a spirit can be the very Delilah of tragedy!

Indeed, Paul declares with the incandescence which being purified, burns for none other but the Lord Himself, "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." Thus you are prepared for action against you, by having as your barrister in charge, none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (I John 2:1ff.), who has given Himself that He might be "Lord both of the dead and the living" (Romans 14:9); and that, it is indeed help in high places, for His name is above every name that can be named, as One indeed of the Trinity (Philippians 2). In Him, we do not deal with deceitful servants but with Him whose very name is Faithful (Revelation 19:11), yes Faithful and True.

In this world I have found few who are faithful and true, but this one has the very NAME of this, for His faithfulness is from ever to ever, forward, upward, backward, surrounding, and His truth impels all generations, and finding some, brings them to its lair of love, where creation first abounded, now having stopped except in one vital regard: that of the new-born, redeemed from among mankind, and brought at last to the knowledge of God, while the sunset lasts, and the lasts rays of this Age show themselves before the darkness of final revolt (Revelation 19), meets the light which exposes (II Thessalonians 1), and for that which has made of itself flammable material, burns.

The alternative does not ache, but blesses. It does not wilt, but arises like a Spring in full season (John 4, 7:37-38); its death is to folly, its crucifixion is of life astray, its strength is in its source, its delight in His majesty. While His light at last withers those who leave Him, ,like the sun where there is no shade, or where that is ignored, yet for His own, their shelter is in Him who made them, and their recourse lies in His redemption. Like the shadow of a Mighty Rock, He hides them. Thus their testimony with Paul is rather this: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," as in Philippians 1:21, which with 1:20 provides such a bugle to arms, His spiritual arms, from the apostle Paul.

Be therefore armed with your faith in Him, and in Him rest; for the wrestling is only to reveal the rest, when the realisation is done (Hebrews 4).