Title: That the Seasons become me
(2 0f 11)
Series: I can see clearly now
Wayne Hinson
Scripture: II Timothy 4: 5-18
Intro: In the course of a day on
this earth, shadows are always present in the evening hours.
Just before the sun goes to bed for the night, shadows always present a
time when our vision might not be as clear as it was in the morning and noon day
hours. In comparing this with our
lives, one would automatically think that our vision would be somewhat impaired
in the evening hours of our life.
However, in reading and studying this portion of Paul's writings to young
Timothy, we are surprised to discover that the aged apostle probably has the
clearest spiritual sight and vision of his life.
As he gazed into the hereafter, I believe Paul may have been thinking
thoughts similar to the song written and sang by the late Dottie Rambo which
goes like this:
There's a light in the window,
The table is spread in splendor
Someone's standing by the open door
I can see the crystal river
I must be near forever
And I've never been this homesick before
May we be granted the wonderful and glorious vision that Paul was experiencing
in these verses. May we pattern our
ministries and lives in such a way that we would be granted a clear vision in
the last days of our lives. May we,
as God's children, be able and qualified to say with the apostle preacher, "I
can see clearly now". In his clear
vision, Paul was able to see:
I. Clear Memories of Past Days
As Paul gazed with clear vision back into the days of his past, he no doubt
could see the vast amount of work accomplished, but he could also see the
vicious amount of wiles asserted
against him. His past record is
well worth our undivided attention.
Paul have been a man of:
A) A Devotion that was
irreplaceable (vs 5-6)
1)
The Fight
("I have fought a good fight")
Paul alludes to the fact that his preaching ministry had been a fight.
The term "good fight" means that he was fighting for the cause and not
his own case. Too many brethren
today have cases, when they need to devote themselves to the cause.
A good fight will always proclaim and further the "good news".
Since there is "none good, not not one", then the only good fight is for
the "good Lord". That day on the Damascus road, Paul received a clear vision and
a clear understanding of what "fighting the good fight" was.
In these days when the enemy is attacking from every direction, we need
desperately to stop fighting each other, and start fighting the enemy.
2) The
Faith
("I have kept the faith")
The word "faith" is a noun, and a noun only names a person, place or object.
Therefore, the noun "faith" has no action in and of itself.
It stands in need of an action word.
That action word is "faithful" which means "full of faith".
Paul was declaring "I have been faithful".
In terms of relationship, Paul was indicating that he had been faithful,
that he had not committed spiritual adultery.
In terms of military language, he was saying that he had never committed
spiritual treason. In occupational language, Paul was stating that he had never
been spiritually absent from work.
He had shown up for work every day.
Paul had been full of faith, therefore he was faithful.
A person will always be what they are full of!
3) The Fruit
("make full proof of thy ministry")
Making full proof of one's service to the Lord is not measured in how loud one
preaches, or how lovely one might sing.
It is measured in the fruit that remains once we have vacated the scene.
Admittedly, we may never be able to count the fruit while in this life,
but rest assured that God is keeping a record.
Making full proof of our ministry is not how large a church we pastor, or
how many meetings we preach, but is measured on what we leave behind to carry on
that which God has entrusted us with.
After almost 2000 years, Paul is still making "full proof of his
ministry".
B) A Direction that is Irrefutable
Verse 5 has strong military overtones.
Much of chapter 4 resembles a commanding officer issuing orders to his
replacement. Paul has maintained a
clear vision of his ministry, and was now instructing his replacement to have
the same. We see that Paul's clear
vision of direction caused him to excel in the:
1)
Way He Marched
("be watchful in all things")
A true and dedicated soldier will always march in rank with his eyes watching
for the enemy. Paul knew who the
enemy was. Today, many do not seem
to be able to discern who the enemy is.
The enemy is the one coming against you, not the one walking alongside
you Paul never detoured in his
march for Christ. He walked in the
grace way, the glory way, and the
gospel way. He never detoured to
travel one foot in the greed way, the game way, the glamor way, the good ole boy
way, the gossip way, the greenback way or the group way.
2)
Work He Marked
("and do the work of an evangelist")
The evangelistic work of the gospel has never been accomplished without the
preaching of the Word. This is
God's choice, not ours. It is not
to be replaced with so called praise music, contemporary music, teaching, self
esteem. or a social gospel. Today,
sadly, in many churches, the Word is not preached but perverted. Paul not only
marked the gospel, but he also marked them that were against the gospel.
3)
Wiles He Managed
Even in times of persecution, Paul
has a clear vision:
a. withstood deeds (vs
14 "Alexander the copper smith did me much evil")
b.
withstood dissent
("at my first answer, no man stood with me")'
c) withstood desertion
("demas hath forsaken me")
II. Clear Moments of Present
Developments
A) His Course was fleeting (vs 9)
This verse indicates Paul's clear understanding that his days were numbered. He
was in prison and he most likely knew that his head would shortly be required of
him. During the spring season of
his life he had known energy.
Through the summer season he had known endurement.
In the harvest time of his life, he had known enjoyment, and now in the
wintertime of his life , He was clearly seeing enlightenment.
B) His Companions were few (vs
10-12)
Paul gives us a list of those that deserted him in his hour of need.
These men most likely were in it for the glory and for gain.
When hard times struck, then they turned tail and ran.
They most likely stayed with Paul as long as he could do something for
them. But, when that ceased, they
disappeared. It is so true that you
will never have a host of friends when in hard times.
C) His Conflicts were Fierce (vs
14-15)
No doubt that the intensity of this attack by Alexander the copper-smith was
much more that Paul cares to inform us of.
Those who maintain that to forgive is to forget, should take notice that
Paul had not forgotten, but did in verse 16, forgive.
His vision of his fierce conflicts was very clear.
He saw clearly that he could forgive them, but he also saw clearly that
he couldn't forget them.
III. Clear Meanings of Promising
Deliverance
A) The Race was almost Completed (vs
6)
Now the apostle could clearly see the finish line up ahead.
The start and the finish lines are not ours to determine, but how well
and how often we run the race in between remains our choice.
Paul had run the race well, and was ready to be offered at the finish
line. When he said, "I am now
ready", he was not just throwing out idle words.
Paul was clearly in control of the fact that the time of his departure
was at hand. His walk with the Lord
was one that was of a close relationship, and one has to believe that the Lord
had informed Paul that his life was at the turn just before the finish line.
B) The Redemption was altogether
Continuing
(vs 18 "will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom")
What a man believes in the final moments of his life are usually what he has
really believed during the full moments of his life.
Paul's doctrine was not changing now.
In verse 13, Paul tells us what the most important thing was in his life,
when he desires that the parchments(Word of God) be brought to him.
Notice his wording in verse 17 and 18.
He is saying that since the Lord stood with me in the beginning, He shall
deliver me now, and will preserve
me in the future. This absolutely
supports the title of this message,
"I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW".