For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing……… (16) At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. (17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
The beautiful 2nd letter to Timothy was the last letter written by the apostle Paul and in this fourth chapter are his final words of faithfulness and assurance of a crown of righteousness. Paul was fitted for glory not by what he did or suffered but through grace alone, in faith alone, in Christ alone. He is a model to be studied for anybody can start something but very few can finish – or finish well. Paul writes from the Mamertine prison in Rome and he had no question that his death was imminent – he writes as if the execution was taking place – his life’s blood was being poured out similar to the drink offering of wine among the Jews which accompanied the sacrifice. Paul showed Timothy and Christians that death held no terror for him but he was facing his appointed passage. The moment of departure was at hand. Paul was looking behind death to what awaits him; the crown was the victory prize he had won which the Lord as the righteous Judge will award him at That day – the day when the Lord will come again in glory. Paul adds a gentle reminder to Timothy that he too, with any others in faith, might win the same glorious crown – specifically those who in this life long for the appearance of the Lord in judgment.
Paul now reviews his first trial in Rome where no one stood by him in that time of peril where to be a Christian advocate would be a service of great danger. But the Lord stood by him and Paul was given the chance to speak publicly “that all the Gentiles might hear.” Clearly this second trial for preaching the gospel ended in condemnation but Paul was allowed time to write this last letter of his farewell to Timothy and the church. In this whole epistle there is not one word of fear but there is expressed with the death facing him that the Lord Jesus would deliver him from all weariness and toil and bring him home safely to His heavenly kingdom. Death was not considered the cessation of existence but the separation of the soul from the body. Death is but an incident to the believer. For Paul, the battle is over, the victory is won and he is headed home.
Paul always guarded the truth of the gospel – the core doctrines of the Christian faith. You can’t keep a faith you are unclear about. You must know what you believe so you can behave as you believe. Just recently the widow of a faithful man told me his last words were “It’s all true. All the love.” My prayer is that we all fight the good fight, we all finish the race and we all keep the faith. It is everything.