We live in difficult and confusing times! Why would I say that? Well, let’s see. Of course, the prolonged COVID killer pandemic threatens our physical, social, and economic well-being. A polarizing political environment generates diverging views on the nation’s problems and solutions. Sub-groups with personal agendas challenge the nation’s long-standing cultural values.
However, the most confusing cultural change is the movement away from those founding Christian principles that have guided this great nation for centuries. Deteriorating conditions in the heart lead to disorder in the streets. Guiding truth in the US today seems to flow from the lips of an endless stream of self-proclaimed street prophets who constantly spout their own brands of truth. Let’s see how the Apostle Paul might respond in the midst of this chaos.
Almost 2000 years ago, the Apostle Paul found himself chained to a guard in a Roman prison. Soon he would face death because of his faith in Jesus. Rather than focus on his immediate situation or complain about the many hardships he faced during his life, Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to his young friend and coworker Timothy.
During the 30 plus years Paul served on the mission field for the Lord, he experienced all sorts of hardships; many were life-threatening. Paul, as a seasoned veteran, understood that young Timothy, as a follower of Christ, would face many challenges too. Timothy pastored a church in Ephesus where the culture posed threats to the teachings of the church. So, Paul warned Timothy of even worse threats that would challenge him and the church (2 Timothy 3:1-9). (It would be worth your while to read Paul’s warning.)
Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived, but people of faith must continue in what we have learned from God’s Word. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Brothers and sisters, we must hold fast to God’s Word as well.
Paul knew from experience that Timothy’s ministry would become more difficult with the passage of time. He knew that maintaining the practice of sound doctrine would present a challenge for Timothy. Encouraging believers to live a Christ like life in the face of an opposing culture would be difficult. Paul urged his young friend to hold on to his Christian teaching. (2 Timothy 1:5–6; 3:14–15).
Paul wasn’t thinking of the 21st century when he wrote to advise Timothy, but his counsel is just as relevant today. No matter what men may say, there is but one source of Truth, and it comes from God, the Creator, and Sustainer of all. The Bible is the only source of Truth that matters. He gave us His Word so that we would never need to be confused. That’s the advice Paul gave his friend Timothy.
In addition to the Apostle Paul’s counsel to his friend Timothy, I found two things worthy of note. First, Paul wasn’t just spouting empty words; he spoke with the authority of a man who practiced what he preached. He set the example for Timothy. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:6-7 ESV). Words are cheap, but a life well-lived is a powerful message.
Second, I am super impressed with Paul’s missionary example. He is in a cold, damp prison facing death, and his focus is completing his mission. He is not complaining about poor prison conditions or the unfairness in his life. Paul stays laser focused on his God-given mission until the end of his life.
Paul’s letter to Timothy gives us good reasons to ask questions of ourselves. How well am I living out the mission the Lord set before me? Is the Word of God my source of Truth in difficult and even threatening times? Does my life serve as a good example to those who follow me in the faith?
Chapter 4 in the Book of James offers good counsel as well, but specifically, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8a ESV). Stay in the Word!