2 Timothy 4

Here’s a memorable line from  Frederick Langbridge

Imagine 2 men languishing in prison

each one is able to look out on the view from their cell

yet each one may as well be universes apart with what they see

“Two men look at the same bars: One sees mud and one sees the stars.” [1]

Paul is still languishing in chains

In the dank cell in Rome

Nero is still pursuing his order to kill as many Christians as he can

As Paul sits amongst the cold dank dripping cold of his cell

He is well aware of his need to put things in order

Here’s where Paul finds out what matters most

from a worldly view everything was being stripped away

every dignity, every achievement  

Paul was born to privilege and education

He lost everything for the sake of following Jesus

He is found now a poor old man shivering in a fetid Roman prison awaiting a death sentence

Charged with sedition he would have felt the contempt of his prison guards

He was a joke to his enemies

Apart from the physician and writer of Acts Luke

Everyone else has abandoned him

these enemies of Paul were getting the boots in while he’s down

like Job’s unwise counsellor they were saying his present state was now a reflection of his loss of favour by God

As he sat in this prison cell he also knew of how the Church of Ephesus was being torn apart by religious wolves

Men like Hymenaeus & Philetus

Who were teaching that Jesus had already returned that the future resurrection was already past and now all the prosperities of heaven were for the taking now

So you could live as you liked

Have what you like

Everything is yours just name it and claim it

The things Paul had seen built up during his ministry

were being stripped away

Challenges, threats, insecurity

A prison cell

Immanent death

Paul lifts up his head

He saw stars

God was right in centre view

Nothing was happening that wasn’t for his chance to grow a little more like Jesus even now

Nothing was going on that was taking away from God’s sovereign hold on his world

As we read in verses 6-8

6   For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.