First of all; I have to apologize for the lapse in my posting. It's been a busy summer here at Cascade Presbyterian, and it seems like now the dust is finally settling. Over the past three months myself, Thomas Pendell, and Justin Bruce have been involved in an intern training program courtesy of the leadership here @ Cascade. I can't say that the training was without difficulty but I believe, and I'm sure Mr. Bruce, and Mr. Pendell would agree that the time has been fruitful. We've read several books and articles, and each preached two sermons for evening services at Cascade. The experience of preaching has been instructive, and humbling for all of us. Now, enough about the summer. Let's finish up II Timothy!
So as I've been looking at this final passage I've come to see a prevalent theme: pressure, and constancy. When put through difficult circumstances will we hold firm, or fall away? If I'm honest with myself, it's a sobering question because I don't know. I can recall times where I have held my ground in spite of pressure, but I can also think of times when I've caved in. More embarrassing then the fact that I've caved in is the realization that I stand firm in public, but I cave in private! There's something about a closed living room door that makes me feel hidden, but of course in that case I'm only hidden from other people. Shutting a door on the world only suffices to trap me in a room with an omnipresent God. It's that kind of sensation that I want you to feel when you read vv.1-2 below.
"I charge in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching."
Here's a thought that I feel really summarizes this chapter, and even the majority of Paul's writing to Timothy in this particular letter. In light of God's presence in our lives; turning aside from his calling is more grave than simply not obeying directions, or even a direct command. Turning aside from God's calling on our lives is, in effect, turning aside from our very ontological roots. There is no identity outside of that which he has given each of us. Whether we're Pastors, college students, nurses, bakers, husbands or wives; each of us lives in the light of Christ's imputed identity, and as such we each have responsibilities to be Christ in each of our unique circumstances. That doesn't mean we get to contextualize and determine how Christ in us is to look to those in our sphere's of influence. It means that Christ's righteousness has practical applications for everybody we come in contact with, and as his followers we need to be diligent in serving that application.
To this effect Paul mentions his life in ministry as a guidepost of faithfulness (vv.6-8). Paul discharged his ministry by faithfully holding fast. Not necessarily what God told him to do, but who God called him to be! To serve as my conclusion I want to include a quote that I read during my devotions this morning. I found it in "The Christian Life" by Sinclair Ferguson, but he is quoting from a work called Selected Shorter Writings by B.B Warfield, an American theologian.
"We have the following bit of personal experience from a general officer of the United States Army. He was in a western city at a time of intense excitement and violent rioting. The streets were over-run daily by a dangerous crowd. One day he observed approaching him a man of singularly combined calmness and firmness of mien, whose very demeanor inspired confidence. So impressed was he with his bearing amid the surrounding uproar that when he had passed he turned to look back at him, only to find that the stranger had done the same. On observing his turning the stranger at once came back to him, and touching his chest with his forefinger, demanded without preface: "What is the chief end of man?'[the first question in the Shorter Catechism*]. On receiving the countersign, 'Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever' [the Catechism's answer]-'Ah!' said he, 'I knew you were a Shorter Catechism boy by your looks!' 'Why, that was just what I was thinking of you,' was the rejoinder.'"
These men's identity was in Christ, and it's outworking was a sense of calm dignity and restraint in the midst of a riotous city. Their imputed ontology of Christ's identity calmed them in their hearts in the midst of chaos, and identified them to each other for the glory of God. To be honest, I was blinking back tears when I read this account this morning, and write it now with a good amount of emotion welling inside of me. I say that because we all are subject to what we consider to be undue pressures. But God is so much greater than whatever we are going through. So much greater in fact that these two men had the confidence to pause in the middle of a riot, while shop fronts were being smashed in and people trampled underfoot. Surrounded by all the chaos the world can offer in one given moment they stopped and reflected on the providential aim of man.
"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."
* The catechism Warfield referred to is the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1.
