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Paul's Departure and Crown

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In many cultures a man's last words are considered his greatest bequeathal. In instances where no words were spoken, the heir has felt the sudden loss and is spiritually bereft. How different was the relationship between young Timothy and his father in the faith, Paul. 'This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.' 1 Tim 1:18 Paul goes on to shape the whole life of Timothy with his final words.

No doubt John Bunyan was radically changed by the Word of God. It was this same Word of God that spurred him on whilst suffering in the dark recess of his own dingy cell. In this booklet, he shares with his reader his innermost emotions, and the words tug at our heart strings. No doubt exists in the reader's mind that the historical period Bunyan lived in was no fairer than that of Paul's day. The Word of God strengthened Paul for the final journey set before this servant of the Lord.

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

In the hour of greatest sorrow, '...wherefore matter not how the world doth esteem of thee and thy present distress that thou bearest with patience for God and His word; but believe that those things that are both shame and dishonour to others, are glory and honour to thee.' p 9 The Word of God comports with our present troubles and comforts us, fitting us for future glory: '...let those whose trials are for the word of God, know, by these very things they are dignified.' p 10 Perhaps preparing for death brought the past into stark relief in the apostle's mind, as in John Bunyan's: 'The second thing considered in the words is this, that to be ready might be understood with respect to the blessed apostle's mind, that was graciously brought over into a willingness to embrace the cross for the word's sake.' p 13

If the man of God of today is going to endure to the end, he will have to hold on to the Word of God as never before. It will be, as by grace received, his hold on the Word of God that singles him out as a true child of the living God. 'This is a frame and condition that deserveth, not only to stand in the word of God for Paul's everlasting praise, but to be a provoking argument to all that read or hear thereof, to follow the same steps.' p 17

As Bunyan will have it, where the church no longer considers the Word of God as profitable, nor is willing to accept sound reproof, the rejection of the preachers of God's Word and the trial of their state follow. Save for the race set before them, will they know as they look back in time on the day of their reckoning, that their appointed task has been completed: 'All for the praise of that I asserted before, to wit, that it is the duty and wisdom of those that fear God, so to manage their time and work that He here alloteth unto them, that they may not have part of their work to do when they should be departing this world.' p 20

As Bunyan will have it all the more, may the Holy Spirit prepare every one of us for a pure understanding so to smite with conviction in this day of Jacob's trouble. 'Believe then, that whatever good thing thou dost for Him, if done according to the word, it is not only accepted by Him now, but recorded, to be remembered for thee, against the time to come.' p 41 May we then rejoice as once did Paul: 'Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.' 2 Tim 4:8a