2 Timothy 4:14-22

2 Timothy 4:14-22 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. At my first defense, 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. 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.

In the above passage, the following words and phrases jump out at me: GREAT DEAL OF HARM; STRONGLY OPPOSED; EVERYONE DESERTED; LION'S MOUTH; EVIL ATTACK; TROPHIMUS SICK IN MILETUS; GET HERE BEFORE WINTER. All those words represent conflict, opposition, trouble, persecution, and loneliness. Paul is God's anointed servant, chosen to carry the precious gospel to a dark, and dying world, yet he was not protected from every vicissitude of life. He had to stand up against the vagaries of normal living. A Christian's life can be very difficult even when he or she is in the center of God's will. Sometimes we preach or believe that God will make our lives "peaches and cream." All that a faithful Christian needs to do to inherit such a life is to be prayed up, always have a strong faith, and fulfill God's plan for his or her life every day. But the above passage implies that Paul was fulfilling all of those spiritual requirements, but was facing many difficulties.

Well, I have news for you: we are no better than Paul, no better than Stephen, no better than Peter, no better than the martyrs. Yes, life brings not only good things, great victories; it also brings sadness, despair, and defeats. I know we don't like to hear that, for as Christians we like to feel that all bumps in the road can be filled before we get there. We like to feel that any situation can be overcome by a quick prayer to the Lord between commercials. However, that is not a life of faith. A life of faith is that I will believe regardless, for I know God is on the throne and He loves me. He will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. BUT, CHILDREN OF FAITH WILL HAVE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES IN THIS LIFE. Now, the question is, will we faint, will we turn back, will we displease God by our grumbling and unbelief? The children of Israel had their wilderness experience. They were chastised because they did not believe they could overcome the giants in the land. We must believe we can overcome the giants in the land. Regardless of the cost, we will enter into the Land of Promise by faith. Is there a cost? Yes, giants do not just lie down and let us overrun them. They will resist. The world, the devil, and evil men will resist our intrusion into their land. But hills have to be taken. Valleys have to be crossed.

All progress has a cost to it. Progress in the kingdom of God costs you your strength, your resources, your mental stability, BUT YOU CONTINUE ON ANYHOW. You figure the fight is worth it, so you marshal as much faith as you can to defeat the enemy, for you know the land is yours. THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM IS YOURS, but you fight for it too--you take it by storm. Life IN CHRIST is worth fighting for, worth dying for. No man will see God unless he is willing to stand firm in faith. If he is not, God will take him back into the wilderness. There his life will be unfruitful. He will not reap the harvest of faith, for he will be consumed with the necessities of life, existing from one day to the next. This fruitless journey will end with his death IN THE DESERT.

NO! STAND FIRM! Regardless of the hardships ahead, regardless of the giants in the land, take it by faith. Believe God is in the mission. Whether all others desert you, stand firm. Whether you are the only Christian in your household, continue to believe that God has given you the land He has promised, and He has equipped you for the journey. He will guide you through this land. Remember always, every obstacle will not be insurmountable, for it is just temporal; you are eternal. God will either have you go over the mountain or around it. Nothing will stop you from gaining your inheritance.

Now many of you are in difficulty. Many of you know there is a Promised Land in the future, but you are befuddled by life right now. Your life of trials is a disappointment to you. Regardless, take hold of your life by faith, keep moving forward. You have chosen to enter this land by faith. You have chosen God rather than the world. Let him reveal himself in your life; let his miracles happen in your fight. And when you are camped at night, worried about the next mountain, listen closely to the Spirit, for He is saying, "I am with you son, daughter." Yes, we are no better than Paul and others, but we are no worse. Miracles happened in their lives and miracles will happen in yours. Hills and valleys were conquered; the same things will happen in your life, for He is a good God, a miracle working God who will fulfill his promises to you, his much-loved child.