Paul teaches us so much from the letters he wrote while in prison to his spiritual son, Timothy.
At the close of his second letter, found in the final chapter, we see a sort of “farewell” message from our teacher.
Falsely accused and sitting in a cold, dark prison cell, Paul pens the letters that should make our heart leap. He says this, “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And He rescues me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into His heavenly Kingdom.” (verse 17-18)
Oh the two things that we can assuredly take from these passages are this:
- Paul’s celebration of past rescue.
- Paul’s confidence of future redemption.
Paul had been a witness to many hardships.
He had been grossly misinterpreted, bitterly accused, viciously attacked, mocked, ridiculed, misunderstood, ignored, hated, and now finds himself at the end of his days faced with one of the most important missions of his life… to leave a legacy that would ensure the continuation of the Gospel message he had committed himself to for so long.
And above all else, he longs to leave us with these two departing thoughts:
God has been good and faithful and He will continue to be good and faithful.
I can imagine this dramatic exit just before he departs from his earthy shell…
“Oh if there is just ONE MORE THING I can leave you with, Timothy, it’s this: The same God who stands with me now, is the same God who has rescued me, and is the same God who will deliver me!" “All glory to God forever and ever.” (verse 18b)
Paul’s life was spilled out for the sake of Jesus Christ… quite literally.
Ahh… He knows… that Jesus has been and will be the only resource he shall ever need.
And on the claim of past rescue, he can cite future redemption.
Because He has been my God… He will be my God.
Paul has great expectations to be delivered, and he holds it by the confident means of deliverance he has already been afforded.
It’s no surprise that the Old Testament word, “testimony” actually carries in it this idea to “do again.” So when we give the testimony of all we have seen God do for us, we are actually making a prophetic declaration that He WILL do it again. And while we certainly have no authority to order His hand, we can be certain that we know His heart - and He is always faithful to perform what will bring us ultimate good and bring Him ultimate glory.
And so Paul makes his prayer into a promise - God has and God will.
Oh what have you seen Him do for your friends? Count the many ways He has shown grace when you didn’t deserve it. Consider the circumstances He has rescued you from, and the ways He has faithfully redeemed you from the most challenging difficulties.
And in the close of Paul’s life… knowing death (by martyrdom) is soon to befall him, he stands confidently to say, “He will deliver me from evil.” He will. Not He might, or He would like to, or even I believe He will… simply and only, “He WILL deliver me from evil.” Because Paul knew that even if what was to come would come… that even if the sword He asked to be removed would be the sword that fell upon his neck and ended his earthly life… that even then nothing could separate him from Jesus. He will, “bring me safely into His kingdom.” (verse 18)
And Jesus knew it well, too. This assurance of deliverance from the utmost of evil. Not because He wouldn't be asked to “drink the bitterness of the cup” that was issued to His lips, but because the act of drinking the poisonous potion was the very act that provided salvation for one and all.
THIS is deliverance.
And it is our past rescue that we can confidently declare our present and future redemption!
He is God… and is He GOOD!
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