How Will You Finish? (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
The Field of Answers of 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
How Will You Finish? (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
Evangelist Paul confesses that his time of departure has come. A time like this comes to everyone. It is God’s principle of creation for a day to be divided into 24 hours, a month into 30 days, and a year into 365 days. I believe it entails two meanings. First, the fact that there is an end to a day, month, and year may be God’s Will for us to think that there is an end to our lives as well (Hebrews 9:27). If a person thinks incorrectly, it could feel too empty. However, we must believe that there is an end to life on earth to live this life that God has given us on earth meaningfully. Second, it is for us to prepare what comes next while finishing the day, month, and year. Even if an end may come to God’s love, it is not the end. It is because there is something next that God has prepared (John 11:25). It is the same even when facing difficulties and problems. A person of God must live by holding onto the fact that God has prepared answers and blessings beyond the difficulty and problem. The believers who held onto this covenant must have had an answer they enjoyed even in this pandemic.
- How must we who are in the gospel finish this year of 2021?
To receive the new blessings in the new beginning, we must finish well.
1) Find something to be thankful for and finish.
① What is it that we must truly be joyful and thankful for? Our souls have been saved (1 Peter 1:8-9).
An eternal new life is prepared for us because our soul has been saved. If not that, an eternal judgment awaits.
② Because our souls have been saved, no problem is a problem, and there is a separate thing God has prepared.
Our souls have been delivered from all curses. He dwells in my soul and spirit. Under no circumstances can Satan destroy my soul (Matthew 10:28). If we restore our thanksgiving, works to be thankful for will come even in the face of problems.
2) Find something to renew and finish.
① There are many things to renew (thoughts, habits, finances, interpersonal relationships). The most important thing to renew is my spiritual state.
It says that as my soul is saved, as God dwells in my soul, and my soul goes well, everything goes well.
② Even if my body gets sick and ages, my soul must be renewed and become deeper every day (theologically, it is called “sanctification”).
That is where the Holy Spirit’s power to save the world, the five powers, is restored. It is deeply experiencing the works of the Holy Spirit in my soul. There is wisdom in the heart and mind, the body is strengthened, interpersonal relationships are restored, and financial power follows.
3) We need to find something to challenge and finish.
① The conclusion of our saved life is God’s masterpiece. From the beginning, life was God’s masterpiece (Genesis 1:31).
The life of the saved is restoring this very blessing that had been lost. Biblical figures became the masterpiece of each age in God’s blessing, even when being uneducated, incompetent, and having no background.
② What is the masterpiece for? It is for the world evangelization of that age (Acts 1:8). Reflect upon my evangelism and missions of this past year.
How will I save one more person and raise multiethnic disciples who will save one country? The 237 nations and 5,000 people groups are around us. Pray that everything in your life may become evidence for that.
- For the remaining time, think about the way I will be going in the new year and throughout my whole life. Then, have a personal time of concentration.
Even if we live with unbelievers, the way a person of God takes is different. God has prepared the way we who are saved must take.
1) We are going on the way of the ones who remain (Covenant Journey).
Humans become more evil, and darkness covers the earth as time goes but God has promised the way we will be going.
① God has surely promised that He will be with us along the way we take. We are not going alone.
The way that He accompanies is one of which He takes responsibility for and guides (John 14:6, 14:16-18). It is okay that I don’t know the way I am going. You simply need to go while enjoying the Lord who is with you. (Job 24:10, Isaiah 55:9, Proverbs 3:5-6).
② Satan may bring suffering through another problem. God will make it into greater evidence.
No matter what, we are the remaining ones, ones who remain, ones who will remain, and ones who will leave behind. One day, we will stand before God and give a confession like Apostle Paul in the passage.
2) We are going on the way of ones who grow deeper with God (Pilgrim’s Journey).
① Other blessings are not what is important. This is the way by which everything becomes true answers.
It is when I grow deeper with God. Enjoy God through 24 hours. Train to truly believe in God and look upon Him (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Lacking and struggles are the greatest opportunities. We grow deeper with Him because we are lacking, hurting, and unable to do things with our strength.
② Train to hold onto the word and pray deeply even just once a day.
Five answers will surely come. A thanksgiving for salvation comes forth. You will start to be in the flow of the Word. It becomes a concentration that feels God’s heart. My weaknesses and hidden spiritual problems are healed. The future God has prepared is revealed.
3) We are going on the way that conquers the world and saves people (Evangelist’s Journey).
① As God blessed man, He entrusted the world and told them to conquer (Genesis 1:28).
They lost this as they were deceived by the Devil and fell into unbelief and disobedience, and their relationship with God was broken. Unbelievers are seizing the world, and instead, the world is crumbling and being destroyed. It is because another spirit is working in the unbeliever’s life that has no Spirit of God (John 8:44, Acts 10:38, Ephesians 6:12).
② Therefore, we must know what spiritual warfare is to go on the true conqueror’s way.
People engage in incorrect warfare their whole life. The passage says that Paul fought a good fight. We are fighting a spiritual battle that saves everyone. It is a battle that saves all people, the powerful nations, and summits. Save me first and triumph over all problems and conflict through spiritual warfare (Romans16:20).
③ This is why we must enjoy the blessing of the throne in worship and prayer.
That is when the heavenly armies and angels that fight against darkness are commissioned. The power of the light that destroys darkness takes place. That is why angels stand before the throne and why there are seven torches of fire (Revelations 4:4-6).
Conclusion: Our life’s conclusion is the day we stand before God. We go forth while looking upon what God has prepared on earth, in the new year, and on that day (verse 8). May you finish the remaining time of this year as the most meaningful time.