Title: Come to Me Soon, Before Winter
Apostle Paul was speaking to Timothy, the true child in faith, to come to him quickly before winter comes (2 Tim 4:9-22). When it comes to Apostle Paul’s Prison Epistles, it refers to Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. To be precise, 2 Timothy is also the letter he wrote in prison. However, because it contains pastoral contents, scholars categorize 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus as Pastoral Epistles. 2 Tim Chapter 4 especially, is like his last will or sermon. Here, Apostle Paul points out the person who is not suitable or worthy for the kingdom of God or the church of God.
- A person like Demas
In the Bible, there are only 3 places that mentioned about Demas: In Phm 1:24 Demas was described as a fellow worker, in Col 4:14 there is no extra description but just the name, in 2 Tim 4:10 Demas was described as the one who love this world.
2 Tim 4:10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens (has gone) to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia
Demas didn’t just betray and departed from Apostle Paul, but he also departed from Jesus Christ. The lake of fire awaits for someone who deserted Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that the reason why Demas left the presence of God and departed from the love of God is because he loved this present world (1 Jhn 2:15-17).
Why did God give us a duty?
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Having a duty makes us perfect and edify the body of Christ. Founding Pastor Rev Abraham Park said that if we lose the duty in church, it is like losing eternal life. To desert the duty is like to desert God.
- The Coppersmith, Alexander
2 Tim 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm: the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
He was crafting idols with copper. He listened to the gospel Apostle Paul’s preaching and he loved it. So, he started following Apostle Paul as became an assistant to Apostle Paul. However, he got upset because it didn’t bring him any profit or benefit, also Apostle Paul discussed with Timothy but not with Alexander.
He followed Apostle Paul about a year and learned how he teaches. Then, he went to a police station and made a report that Apostle Paul is teaching all kinds of heretical lessons, saying “he encouraged people not to obey the law of the country, and he asked people not to respect the king of this world etc.” This accusation disturbed and hindered Apostle Paul’s ministry.
The life of faith is not about getting recognition or be pleased by people around us. Rather, the life of faith is to change our life to please our Father God.
Conclusion
Who is the one the church needs?
2 Tim 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
Apostle Paul said, “Only Luke is with me.” The person like Luke is needed for the kingdom of God and for the church.
Apostle Paul was about 80 years old. As Luke started following Jesus when Jesus was around, Luke must be an elderly person as well. Apostle Paul had an eye disease which he prayed to God for 3 times and God answered stop praying for it because it is there to keep you humble. Luke was a physician. So, when he visited Apostle Paul, he treated his eye disease and applied medicine on his eyes (Gal 4:15).
Although people like Demas and Alexander left Apostle Paul because he loved this present world or they thinks there is nothing more to gain from him, Luke remained steady and kept visiting Apostle Paul in the prison and treated his eyes with medicines.
Did Apostle Paul had enough money to afford any medicine? It was Luke who earned money first and buy medicine and visited Apostle Paul and applied it.
Considering all this, we can conclude that Luke was a spiritually mature man. He is known as the author of the book of Acts, but he didn’t write his name there to get recognition. He lifted all other disciples of Jesus Christ but hid himself in a humble position. He served without recognition and without name. A person like Luke is the one that the church needs today.
Apostle Paul was asking Timothy to come to him soon before winter. Winter signifies an end: It can be a personal end or universal end. Before such winter comes, we should return to Jesus, and even without any recognition or profit, we should be with Him and serve Him.
Covid-19 is hard on us, but we know that Covid-19 is not the final plague that God is going to pour out upon this earth. There would be far worst plague in the end time. Therefore, we should come to Jesus quickly right now, before ultimate winter comes.
Utilize this time of difficulty to come closer to God and enhance your faith in God. God will surely be pleased with us, and enable us to go through this time of difficulty with greater blessings He provided for us.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 