Second Timothy 4:6
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
Fighting to the End
I don’t ever want to retire. I don’t want to burn out either. I want to go out in a great ball of fire! D.L. Moody, who tirelessly worked for the Lord, was once asked if he was tired, but he answered, “I’m not tired of the work. I’m tired in the work.” That’s a huge difference. If you knew that today would be your very last day on Earth, what would you do? Who would you talk to? Would you urgently be appealing to all of your family members, friends, and co-workers, even strangers on the street who were not saved that they needed to repent and trust in the Lord? I would think you’d have a greater sense of urgency in almost every aspect of your life, wouldn’t you? Why not live our lives like that every day?
Today Could Be the day
Paul knew that his life was near the end (2 Tim. 4:6), and he could look back and see that he fought the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:6). He looked ahead to the crown of righteousness, which the Lord had waiting for him, but this crown wasn’t only for him but for all who had a deep, abiding longing for Jesus’ return (2 Tim. 4:8). He could reflect on his life with the satisfaction of knowing that he had given it everything he had and faithfully kept the faith until the very end (2 Tim. 4:7). What about us? Can we say that we are fighting the good fight of faith today and every day and living like today could be the last day of our lives? None of us knows when that day will come, but it is coming for us all (Heb. 9:27); of that we can be sure.
Poured Out Like an Offering
I love the wording of Paul’s last letter to Timothy as well as us. He was ready to be poured out like a drink offering. In the Old Testament and in Judaism of his day, drink offerings were poured out as offerings to God, which is exactly what Paul did with his life. He left nothing in the cup–everything was poured out for the Lord’s glory. I wonder if I could do close to the same thing as Paul? Certainly not to the same extent, but I like the idea of pouring myself out every day so that God can fill me back up again. I want to live life every day like it could be my last, because it could. Not because I’m over 60; rather, because the Lord knows the day of my death and I don’t (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16). So I’m going to strive to live it to the max because I won’t get a second chance. There’s no evangelism in heaven.
A Closing Prayer
God, I have no idea which day will be my last, but it will surely come and perhaps when I least expect it. So please create in me a heart for the lost so that I can use every ounce of my being to help reach the lost for as long as I have a breath in me. In Jesus’ most glorious name I pray.
Amen
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
