Time is Short

Time is Short

By Michael Klikas

03 December 2006
Adult Education Hour
2 Timothy 4:1-17

Well here we are at the end of apologetics study. Hopefully we will finish all our material today. If we do not finish, the remainder of the material will be on the web site for you to review. So let’s quickly recap and so we can finish all the material today.

The first area we touched on was confrontation and more specifically criticism and confrontation. We said this concerning criticism and confrontation. If you are dealing with a brother or sister in Christ and you are confronting them in an apologetical way, then along with pointing out from the word of God the area that need to grow and change in and change their thinking in, you also need to be an encouragement to them. By the same token, we said this. It does not do any good to point out to someone their faulty thinking without showing them the truth from the word of God and how to change their thinking.

We then talked about long suffering and how sometimes the Lord will not open the eyes of someone that we are dealing that with for our benefit. We have come to live in this fast food environment where we think people should change in the same amount of time as it takes to order, receive and eat a meal at any fast food chain. If the Lord is patient with us and he opens our eyes and reveals truth to us then why are we so short with other people and even the Lord Himself?

We also talked about the importance of having a solid foundation through solid doctrine because of the fact that people are going to try and convert us to their way of false beliefs. We then said the future as it relates to the Scriptures in verse three is always near to us. The future is only one second away and the time is coming, or it is just seconds away from the time that men will not only not endure sound doctrine but ridicule it, twist it, reject it, ignore it, neglect it and express their contempt for it.

We then made the transition into talking about growing the Christian life and said this. To grow the Christian life into what the Lord wants you to be means that you have to constantly ignore the pain of self denial and challenge your mind to do what is right. If you ignore the pain of self denial and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then you are going to stand out in today’s Christianity. Those who have itching ears will then wonder why you are so radical. We made the point of saying were not radical, were biblical.

We then concluded by saying that we need to watch in all things. That means if we have the opportunity to head of potential problems we must do that. That is not just potential problems in our lives, but also in the lives of others.

Now as we go into verse six of this chapter, it seems as though Paul radically changes gears, but in fact he doesn’t. He has talked to Timothy about his ministry and what he needs to do as preacher of the gospel. He had the right to tell Timothy this because he had already done these things. When it wasn’t popular to preach the word of God, Paul preached it. He reproved, rebuked, exhorted with all longsuffering and doctrine. What he’s telling Timothy is that when you get to the end of your ministry, you want to be able to say these same things as a testimony unto the Lord. There is no doubt that Paul knew he was at the end of his physical life.

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

There is no way any of us can be ready to be offered if our walk with the Lord is anything but upright. Some think that Paul knew at this point that he was going to die. The truth of the fact is that any of us could die at any time. Time in this life is so short that if we do not live for the Lord every moment we can, then we have wasted valuable time that we can never get back. We can’t wait to give that verbal defense because we may not get another chance with that person or that group of people.

The course that Paul finished was not his own designed course but that which the Lord designed. We need to run the race set before us as Paul did. We need to follow Paul as he followed Christ. Study Him, see His example and you will see that a true Christian is able to die well, W of their salvation, and with little or no regret from the race they ran during the time they were saved. Christians can remember with even tears of joy how God was faithful to them as they were faithful to God. They can see the glorious purpose for their life was fulfilled. Now, how will you be on your death bed? Will regret, remorse, sorrow, and self-pity course through your veins? See the contrast now between a person dying with a bottomless pit of regret and someone dying as the beloved Paul the Apostle who not only gave a verbal defense, but through the power of God accomplished more than probably anyone since in two thousand years.

God has equipped us with everything that we need to keep the faith. He has given us the Holy Spirit that resides in us and teaches us. He has given us his inspired word that will change us if we study and apply it. The Lord has also given us the privilege of prayer. All these things are at our disposal for keeping the faith and yet we fail miserably at times in our obedience to God.

Life is a constant struggle between doing right and wrong. How many times have we wanted to say something to someone but knew that we didn’t know enough of the word of God to mount a solid defense. It’s one thing to be a new Christian and not know enough of the word of God. It’s another thing to be saved for a few years or more and still not partaking of the meat of the scripture. We make all sorts of excuses on why we do not have the time to study God’s word like we should. If that is where we are then we will not be able to say with Paul that we are ready to be offered and that we have finished our course and kept the faith. A true Christian will keep the faith until the end. Someone who has no concern to guard the faith and contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 3) has no assurance from the Word of God of true conversion.

You see, there may come a time when it seems like the only one that is doing what is right is you. While you know there are other Christians who love the Lord and doing right also, where you are, there is only you. In the next few verses no one is exactly sure why Paul wanted Timothy to come to be with him. But I will say this, when it seems like no one around you want’s to do what is right, it’s nice to have someone that you can turn to for fellowship and sharpening. The question I have for you is not are doing right and standing alone like Paul did, but are you a Timothy? Do those who are doing battle for the Lord hear your words of encouragement often? Would they call on you if they needed encouragement?

When you think about what happens when you preach the word, in season and out of season, there are very few who will stand with you. You will by virtue of God’s word drive those away that do not want to obey and do right.

Another thing that really sticks out here to me is that even though you have your church family, for the most part you are going to have to go through apologetical trials alone at times. There may not be anybody at the time you are going through these trials that can or would even want to readily stand with you. I am not saying that is the case now. What I am saying is what we have already said about the time is coming when some of us may turn away because of itching ears. Not only that, but there may even be those that once stood with you have now forsaken you. Notice again verses nine through thirteen.

2 Timothy 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

2 Timothy 4:12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

2 Timothy 4:13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

If the Lord allows us to live a long life and serve him for the remainder of our lives those that have meant the most to us and have stood with us when we have preached the word both in season and out of season would be the ones that we would want to see when the Lord takes us home. And as I said, I would hope that I have been faithful enough to the Lord that those who have also served faithfully over the years would call me at the end of their life. Would those around us request us at their death bed because of our faithfulness?

But another thing that we must talk is about is the fact that Paul was passing on his ministry to Timothy. This has major implications because we must ask ourselves to whom would we pass our ministry on to. We know that we are all supposed to be faithful. The reality of it is what we are supposed to do and we actually do are sometimes two totally different things. Who are we going to teach during this life and what will we pass to them when it’s time for us to go home? Why it is so important to pass on that which the Lord has given us as far the ability to minister and defend the faith.

There are going to be those that will stand against you and do everything that they can to hinder your ministry; whether your ministry is to your children and family; whether your ministry is to your co-workers; whether you ministry is to Christians who are weaker in the faith, there will be those that would oppose you and do what they can to discourage you, harm you and stop you all together. You may have already experienced this and if you have, then you understand what I am saying. Imagine then, if you will, the great gift that you leave someone whom you love in the way of your experience in fighting spiritual battles and how you stood when no one else around you would stand with you. You can, without gossiping, point to the people in who have done you much evil and help those that come after learn how to please the Lord in those types of circumstances. Those that we help equip through discipleship and apologetical defenses need to be warned about the Alexander the coppersmith’s that exist in this world. Look in verses fourteen and fifteen.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2 Timothy 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

I know we have said this several times during our study but it needs to be said again. As an apologist you are not out to win people over and turn them into friends. If that happens then great, but that is not the goal. If we make that the goal then we will fail every time. First of all, we will fail because the goal of an apologist is to what? The goal of an apologist is to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, there are not only going to be those that oppose the gospel but those that hate the gospel message and those who proclaim it. There are those that we need to beware. They will do all they can to stop the work of the Lord. They openly oppose the gospel and hate the messengers of the gospel because they hate the Lord of the gospel. Notice what Paul said in the end of verse fifteen. He clearly states that he not only withstood Paul’s words and those that were with him but that he greatly withstood his words.

The question that I have to ask all of us is, has there ever been anyone who has strongly resisted your words or, are your words non-confrontational. Do you keep from saying things that would cause someone to resist what you have to say or do you just kind of go along with the flow. Apologetics never goes with the flow because the flow is going in the opposite direction of the Lord.

There is something else that we need to know about the kind of people that may resist us. Alexander the Coppersmith can reside both in and out of the church. There are those that oppose the truth in the church. Church is great place as just as long there are no waves made, everything remains as is and nothing forces me to change. Church is a great place just as long as we don’t make any changes to how we do things. Church is a great place as long as everyone is in agreement, even if it’s contrary to the word of God. What apologetics does and the reason why so many shy away from it is because it challenges people on the heart level.

Speak to people in a non-confrontational way, do not challenge them and you will have no problems. You will also have no apologetical defense. Apologetics challenges both parties at the heart level. The one who is putting up a verbal defense is challenged to live a pure godly life. That can only be done at the heart level. The one to whom the verbal defense is given is exposed and challenged at the heart level. When that happens whatever comfort they had in their sin is suddenly taken away. No one likes to be uncomfortable in their sin. We like the big comfy cozy sin chair.

So we have to understand that apologetics take place in and out of the church. If you give your heart to the Lord and become the apologist that God wants to be then there will be those that oppose you. Not only will there be those that oppose you but then there will the crowd that says I think he or she is radical and I am going to stay away. I don’t want anything to do with them and I certainly do not want to be associated with them. You’re on your own!

Look with me at verse sixteen of 2 Timothy 4.

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Here is the verse where we find the word apologia. As you may have guessed the word answer means verbal defense. Now this seems that Paul has once again switched gears on Timothy. But in actuality he hasn’t because he is now telling Timothy that when he was on trial, of all those that he ministered to, not one came to his defense. And so it may be with you when you stand up for the truth and what is right. People may disassociate themselves with you because of fear, jealousy, or any other number of reasons.

The point that I am trying to get across is that in the world of apologetics, you are going to stand alone for the truth. There are people who fear men more then God and therefore will not stand with you. There are people who fear what may happen to their reputation if they stand with you for the truth. There are people who do not have the spiritual back bone to stand up for the truth because they rely on others for their support. So if no one stands with them then they do not have the wherewithal to stand on their own. However, even if no one stands with you, you have the duty and responsibility before the Lord to stand for the truth regardless of who stands against you or who forsakes you.

Have you ever helped someone out and then when in time of need those that you have helped have all of a sudden forgotten your name and who you are? Have you ever been welcomed as long as you didn’t rock the boat but as soon as you saw trouble and tried to warn those around you. You then find that those around you have turned on you or turned away from you. All these things can and will happen in the arena of apologetics. All you have to do is fight a few battle and you will experience this. Then once you start putting up a verbal defense for what is right, those around you, as I have said, start to distance themselves. Why does this happen? The reason that this happens is because people base their apologetical defenses on what is right to them or for them instead of what is right according to the word of God. If we were to base our verbal defenses on what is best or right for us then we would soon abandon the word of God. If you remember when we went over the book of Judges, we finished that series up by pointing out the last verse in that book that said every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Our eyes are imperfect. Not just physically but also spiritually. We can’t see truth or know truth without the word of God and the Holy Spirit. Yet all too many times we rely on our feelings and emotions to determine what is right. But when someone comes along and uses the word of God to show us that we have been deceived by our feelings and emotions then we get even more riled up. We back away from that person and say that they are too radical because they are using only the word of God to direct their life. So when the time comes for us to stand with that person we put air, a lot of air between them and us. This is what happened to Paul. After all he did for those he ministered to, when it came time to support him and speak up for him, no one stepped forward. Ave you ever failed to step up for someone or have you shied away because you didn’t want to rock the boat, get involved, go against the grain or any other reason that you can think of?

So what do we do when that happens? We get bitter and start to plan on how we are going to get them back! Hopefully that’s not your first reaction. But then again sometimes there is a difference between what we should do and what we actually do. I must say this though, when you stand for what is right you are usually going to stand by yourself or with very few people around you standing with you. You have the example of Paul here, Joshua and Caleb when they went to spy out the promised land, Samuel when the children of Israel wanted to be like all the other nations and have a king rule them, and there are others we could list but won’t for the sake of time.

The point is, when you are going to take a stand for what is right, you are usually going to stand alone or be in the minority. The minority though is an earthly term because if you stand for what is right then you are not alone because the Lord will be standing there with you. Notice again what Paul says in verses sixteen and seventeen of 2 Timothy Chapter 4.

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Do right and stand alone. Take the popular stance, though it may not be right in the sight of the Lord and have others stand with you. Now we are congregationally ruled in that we make the decisions by voting. However, we have to be careful when it comes to majority rules. A majority vote doesn’t necessarily mean that something is right biblically. We could say that because fifty one percent of the church wants to have CCM and that CCM is alright because the majority has said so. I alluded to this earlier with Samuel and the children of Israel. However, there is a flip side to this that is just as dangerous. The flip side to this is, look at how spiritual I am and look at all that know. All these people are wrong and if it wasn’t for me they would never know that what they are about to do is going to be the wrong thing to do, not to mention sinful.

Both standing with the majority and standing alone can be just as wrong and sinful if the side we are taking is contrary to the word of God. Paul here was referring to a trial that he was on and how that no one came to side for his defense. Yet he knew his life was pleasing to the Lord and so he did not let bitterness or hurt feelings rule him. Notice what he says after he states the fact that no one stood with him.

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

The goal of apologetics is not to get people to see things your way or join your side. We have said this from the very beginning and will not change our stance on that. The goal of apologetics is to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even if that means you are the only one pointing people to the Lord. Paul understood this so he did what we all should do and that is pray for those who do not stand for what is right according to the word of God. Notice that I did not say stand with you. If someone does stand with you when putting up an apologetical defense hopefully it’s because they see the truth and wish to stand for what is right also. However, if someone chooses not to stand for the truth according to the word of God, there is nothing that we can say or do aside from praying for them that will help them to see the truth. God opens the eyes of those who do not see the truth, but the Lord also expects, yeah he requires that we pray for them and present the truth to them. Have you prayed for those who have not seen the truth from the word of God or have you decided in your heart to lay it to their charge? Have you said that you will no longer bother to tell them the truth because of the fact that they stood against you instead of with you.

Even though no man stood with Paul, he still had compassion on them. This then is another attribute that we must have not only have in apologetics, but in our Christian life. Compassion, especially for men is not always something that comes naturally. So many times we read about how the Lord was moved with compassion. All too many times we are moved with callousness instead of compassion. After all, if we understand something and the other person doesn’t, too bad because they should! Think about this, when your child gets hurt, who do they usually go to first, mom or dad? Mom is the one that kids go to first because women are usually more compassionate then men. We say something like get up, you’re okay, or, you’re six years old, be a man! Compassion is not a natural attribute to men. If anything we need to start out in apologetics with compassion because if you have had your eyes opened to the truth, then you remember what it was like to walk in darkness. How much more grateful should we be to the Lord for opening our eyes. How much does our heart ache for those that are still blind to the truth as we once were.

Please understand, I do not say that boastfully but rather compassionately because people I know are still lost and their eyes are darkened to the truth. You see if you approach apologetics without compassion then you approach apologetics just like a Pharisee. You know the truth about salvation but lost people are nothing more than a lost sinner. You’ll pray like the Pharisee did in Luke 18:11.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

If we do not have compassion then we will fail as an apologist because we will not point people the Lord Jesus Christ but rather to our own man made religion that shows no pity or compassion for the state that they are in.

Mt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Mt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Mt 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Mt 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

These are just a few verses that deal with compassion. Aren’t you thankful that the Lord had compassion on you when you were lost in your sins? Aren’t you thankful that the Lord still shows compassion to you when you make those foolish decisions or sin against him? Do you have compassion for those who are still deceived by their religions and trust more in their religious doctrines then they do in the doctrines of the Bible? The other thing that compassion will do for you is it will make you realize the compassion that the Lord has had and continues to have for you.

When you enter in to apologetics with the proper attitude and depend solely on the Lord to give you the right words to say then you can stand up at anytime for the truth because the Lord will stand with you also.

Notice verse seventeen again.

There is so much here in this one verse that we may not get a chance to cover it all so we are going to just highlight a few points because our time is almost done for apologetics. Notice that Paul says notwithstanding the Lord stood with him. Really it doesn’t matter who stands with you as long as the Lord is standing with you. While it’s nice to have the support of others, it’s not necessary. Who do we look to please men or God? Who will always stand with us and never forsake us when we stand for the truth? I hate to say this because I am a man, but men are undependable.

Sometimes we are afraid more of the consequences of doing right then we are of doing wrong. Have you ever wondered why that is? It’s because we fear man more than we fear the Lord. God is faithful and because of that faithfulness we can have hope, courage, stedfastness, boldness, and confidence that the Lord is standing with us when we stand for the truth from the word of God.

All these things that I just listed come from trusting in the Lord and serving him whole heartedly. When you realize who your strength is then you no longer have to depend on yourself or anyone else to enter into an apologetical defense. Even though there will be those that wish to silence you and cause you much fear and harm you know that the truth will go forth and accomplish all that the Lord desires. I used to fear speaking to Jehovah’s Witnesses until I understood apologetics and applied it. As you know I chomp at the bit to be able to speak to them and give them the truth from the word of God. But we should have that attitude that no matter with whom it is we are engaging in an apologetical defense with. Let me tell you this as we get ready to wrap things up. You are going to have failures in apologetics. Do not be discouraged by them but rather use them as a way to motivate yourself to know more about the Lord and know more of his word. Failure is not necessarily a bad thing. I understand that no one looks forward to failing. But if we look at failure as a way to grow and learn from our failures then we will grow so much more then if we always had victories.

So what do we do to cut down on the failures and increase the victories? First of all, as we stated in our very first apologetics class, have the mind set that your goal is going to be to point that person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once that goal is set in your mind, start studying the word of God so that when needed, you can draw upon what you have studied to answer someone. We know that we need to be ready at all times to answer every one that will ask of us our hope.

Secondly, do not fear religious people just because they have been trained in their religion. If you know the word of God intimately then no matter how someone twists the scriptures you can refute what they say with the truth from the word of God. Sometimes we can get intimidated because these religious people seem to be able to answer everything we say to them. But as we learned in the book of Acts, we need to listen carefully to what these people say. When you do that in conjunction with studying the word of God, your mind will recall instantly what you have studied and you will be ready to answer them even before they are finished.

Then finally, it may be that when you stand for the truth as we have learned in portion of our study that as a human being you will stand alone. You however, are not standing alone if you are standing on the truth. God will be with you when you stand for the truth no matter who forsakes you. And remember that no matter what happens, compassion and not bitterness should be what you have for people even if those people forsake you for whatever reason.