A View from the Finish Line
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul does us a wonderful service when he gives to believers a view from the finish line. He’s just about ready to finish his life’s race, when he decided to write to young Timothy, his protégé, and said, “Timothy, let me tell you how I feel right now. Allow me to give you a view of what I’ve got going on inside me as I approach the finish line.” Due to persecution, Paul was in prison in Rome, more than likely in the Mamertine Dungeon. There, beside the river, damp and dark and cold, Apostle Paul wrote this last letter to Timothy, his dear son in the faith. Sensing that he was approaching the finish line, Paul gave his final words of encouragement, challenge, and caution to a young man that he had mentored and discipled in the faith. Paul sent this letter hoping that Timothy, who was in Ephesus (2 Timothy 1:18), would receive it in time to come to him in Rome before anything bad happened or winter set in (2 Timothy 4:9, 21). But if not, then this letter would serve as Paul’s last will and testament and would prepare Timothy to do the work of ministry in Paul’s absence and to ensure that the gospel was extended to the next generation. Even though Paul is lonely, he is fulfilled in what he’s been able to accomplish and he is full of anticipation.
1. The Confidence
First, he compared himself to a sacrifice. The "sacrifice" is a reference to the drink offering which in the Jewish feasts terminated the great Day of Atonement. At the end of all the offerings, a drink offering, a jug of wine was poured out upon the altar. Paul sees himself in that way.
Second, Paul was ready to depart
1. Paul was raising anchor
a.) The first word picture for the word departure is that of a ship raising anchor and removing moorings to leave one country for an another
b.) Paul had been anchored in this life but was now ready to raise anchor and set sail for his new home
2. Paul was breaking camp
a.) The second word picture for departure is that of a camp being taken down to move on
b.) Paul was constantly moving from village to village, city to city and country to country. Paul was now breaking camp for the last time and heading for his permanent home in heaven.
3. Paul was released from his burden
a.) The third word picture of departure was that of unyoking an animal from the burden of its work
b.) Paul was being released from his burden and his labor for Christ’s kingdom was over. Paul was moving on to his rest with Christ.
Paul had given his all for the service of Christ and he was ready to move on to be with Christ
2. The Conflict
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
CONQUERERS (square miles they conquered)
1. Genghis Khan (1162-1227), 4,860,000
2. Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) 2,180,000
3. Tamerlane (1336-1405), 2,145,000
4. Cyrus the Great (600-529 B.C.), 2,090,000
5. Attila (406-453), 1,450,000
6. Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), 1,370,000, all of which he lost in 3 years
7. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) 720,000
8. Mahmud of Ghazni (971-1030) 680,000
9. Francisco Pizarro (1470-1541), 480,000
10. Hernando Cortes (1485-1547), 315,000
3. The Course
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
William Barclay writes: “The one thing necessary for life is staying-power, and that is what so many people lack. It was suggested to a certain very famous man that his biography should be written while he was still alive. He absolutely refused to give permission, and his reason was: ‘I have seen so many men fall out on the last lap.’” Paul was not going to fall out on the last lap.
This idea of finishing what we start belongs in the smaller areas of life as well. Instead of looking years ahead to when we might die and speculating on whether we’ll end strong, ask yourself how well you’re finishing now in the shorter, less glamorous dashes of life. How about that project you’re working on for your boss? Will the finished-product be first-class, or simply mediocre, with excuses attached as to why it couldn’t be better? And what about when you’re called to do something behind-the-scenes? Do you stay at it until it’s done right, or do you settle for “good enough to get by”?
4. The Commandment
Paul kept the faith
1. Paul managed the faith well
a.) Paul says: “I have kept the faith”
1.) The word kept means to watch over, to maintain or to guard
2.) Paul is saying that he has made every effort to maintain his personal faith and protect the integrity of the gospel.
b.) The word kept was a term used for managers or stewards with the understanding of protecting someone else’s property.
c.) Paul had been entrusted with the faith and the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul had been given the precious and incredible gift of saving grace and a call to ministry
5. The Coronation
Paul is looking ahead to the moment when earthly work is done and a heavenly existence is begun. And, he again employs the use of a figure to make his point. He talks about a crown. This undoubtedly motivated Paul to stay faithful until the end. In Paul’s case, it was the finish line of life where a crown awaited him.
Paul operated by a fundamental principle of life-success. Picture where you want to be and never stop pushing toward it! In order to finish strong, think about what’s ahead and anticipate your outcome and focus on the finish line. Are your struggling to get through school? Focus on graduating. Picture yourself crossing the stage to receive the hard-earned prize of your diploma. Are you raising a houseful of small people with sticky fingers and dirty diapers? Take your focus off the grape-jelly handprints on your couch and put it on the end product – mature adults who love God, who work hard, who are responsible citizens, and who are capable of handing down their faith to the next generation. Are you depressed with your marriage? Picture yourself, hand-in-hand, walking along the beach with a life-partner who has weathered the storms alongside you and been there every step of the way. Are you completely dominated by alcohol? Picture yourself, sober, happy, joy-filled, loving your family without guilt and doing things with your time and resources that are changing people’s lives. Are you caught up in the values of this present age and your family has suffered for it? See yourself 20 years from now, after throwing yourself fully into the things that are eternal like your family. See the daughter that you loved and cherished rush up to you and hug you and thank you for giving her the tools she needed to succeed in life. Picture your son who would rather spend a weekend with Dad than party with the guys because Dad is the neatest person he knows. Are you in a professional vocation? Envision how you can use your position and influence to move people toward the Savior.
6. The Company “…all those that love his appearing.” (GK- ep-iph-an-e-ah)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
The words of Adam Clarke, a Christian saint and biblical expositor, are appropriate here. At 84, he said, "I have passed through the springtime of my life. I have withstood the heat of its summer. I have culled the fruits of fall. I am even now enduring the rigors of its winter, but at no great distance I see the approach of a new, eternal springtime. Hallelujah!"
