Saying Good Bye

            Saying “Good bye” can be a long and difficult process. In some cultures, perhaps a person getting up, pushing the chair back and then saying, “Well, see you later” would be enough while in other cultures, the process can take five to ten minutes or even more after announcing your intentions to get up and leave. The process can go from the living room to the car with numerous announcements of their intention to leave and then end up with a wave and even a flashing of the porch light as they drive away. Second Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 

             The Apostle Paul was saying Goodbye to young Timothy and the tone of the words indicated that it was going to probably be the last time he would have to speak even by a letter to the young Bishop of Ephesus. Paul could see the handwriting on the wall and he knew what he had done in his lifetime. It looked like the end was coming and so Paul makes the final statement that we probably all would love to be able to say at the end of our lives. Paul truly did it. He accomplished what he had set out to do. He spread the Gospel message to every place he went and when he was done he would go on and on until it had been spread in areas never before heard of. He had started out in Jerusalem and ended up in Rome. He had been to numerous cities in Asia Minor and then went into Europe with the Gospel. He saw a lot of their jails usually after spending a few weeks preaching. Then, someone would complain and Paul and his team would end up in a prison such as the one in Philippi that feel to the ground in a God inspired earthquake. In his own testimony, he described how he had been ship wrecked, robbed, beaten and thrown in prison and how he even was attacked by seemingly his friends. It would be enough to make and average man quit and go back to his employment of making tents. The example of Paul's life was one for us to follow. He was the best missionary and he showed us all how to do it. Could we dare say any of the three phrases that Paul made? Could we say that we have fought the good fight, or that we had finished the course or finally that we have kept the faith? Paul's final remarks refer to the crown of righteousness that is given to those that love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ? That crown is available to all that love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. That means it is available to us, today if we look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There may be many of the American church who don't look forward to that event as they are so content to view the handiwork of God at the beach or the mountains and the other blissful scenes that have been created by God. To the starving in countries around the world, or to those who are facing death at the hand of an unbeliever, or those that are in war torn countries with no bed to lay on at night, to them, they cry out, “Please Lord, Come and take me home.” May we strive to be like Paul and to stay on the course that God has given to us and to be faithful no matter what happens in our lives. May we always remember that God is still on the throne and that He is fully aware of each and every believer and what is going on in their lives. That means you and me. Praise God today that He is fully Sovereign in all things.