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2 Timothy 4:8
Paul has just finished telling Timothy that has given every thing he can and he will be leaving soon. And he says this with the assurance of one who knows that have done every possible thing they could to do the Lords will. He says it as one who has an intimate relationship with him and knows what is coming next. This reminds me of the scenes in movies where the old beloved mentor is about to die and next to him is some one who he has taught and who has come to love him. And the dying person will say something along the lines of " Death is not an end, it is the start of the greatest adventure"
Paul knows he has something to look forward to. More than just lying around on clouds playing a harp, but a crown of righteousness, a reward for his life of service. To join God in the epic story of which he is author and main character. Perhaps it was his encounter with God on the road or maybe it was something else or many smaller encounters during his life that gave him this certainty of something more awaiting him. More than just our view of heaven today more than anything anyone else could imagine. And i think that this is what drove hime to let himself be "poured out like a drink offering "( 2 Tim 4:6) and what drove him to do the things he did with the fervor he did them.
If we could find that same fervor, if we would let our imaginations go and allow ourselves to believe that our reward in heaven will be beyond our wildest dreams, maybe then our service would change, maybe then our house would be opened up to complete strangers. Maybe if we truly believed in this kind of reward we would not live for the rewards of this world at all. Perhaps then our house, our car, our clothes would be offered up at any need from anyone, not just those we like or know but if the lady in the back who just joined last week comes up and says she has a need, maybe if we believed our reward in heaven is as big as paul thinks it is, maybe then we would be will to sell our car or our home to meet that need. This is the kind of crazy love the people of the early church lived with. Just read acts. Whenever there was a need and sometime just because they would sell portions of their land and give the proceeds to the church. What if we lived that way today, what if we expected from ourselves and from others to live with this kind of abandon and love, to trust that God would really provide for us and that anything we have could be offered up for his service and for the benifit of his children. Think about it.
"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."
Paul has just finished telling Timothy that has given every thing he can and he will be leaving soon. And he says this with the assurance of one who knows that have done every possible thing they could to do the Lords will. He says it as one who has an intimate relationship with him and knows what is coming next. This reminds me of the scenes in movies where the old beloved mentor is about to die and next to him is some one who he has taught and who has come to love him. And the dying person will say something along the lines of " Death is not an end, it is the start of the greatest adventure"
Paul knows he has something to look forward to. More than just lying around on clouds playing a harp, but a crown of righteousness, a reward for his life of service. To join God in the epic story of which he is author and main character. Perhaps it was his encounter with God on the road or maybe it was something else or many smaller encounters during his life that gave him this certainty of something more awaiting him. More than just our view of heaven today more than anything anyone else could imagine. And i think that this is what drove hime to let himself be "poured out like a drink offering "( 2 Tim 4:6) and what drove him to do the things he did with the fervor he did them.
If we could find that same fervor, if we would let our imaginations go and allow ourselves to believe that our reward in heaven will be beyond our wildest dreams, maybe then our service would change, maybe then our house would be opened up to complete strangers. Maybe if we truly believed in this kind of reward we would not live for the rewards of this world at all. Perhaps then our house, our car, our clothes would be offered up at any need from anyone, not just those we like or know but if the lady in the back who just joined last week comes up and says she has a need, maybe if we believed our reward in heaven is as big as paul thinks it is, maybe then we would be will to sell our car or our home to meet that need. This is the kind of crazy love the people of the early church lived with. Just read acts. Whenever there was a need and sometime just because they would sell portions of their land and give the proceeds to the church. What if we lived that way today, what if we expected from ourselves and from others to live with this kind of abandon and love, to trust that God would really provide for us and that anything we have could be offered up for his service and for the benifit of his children. Think about it.
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