Come Before Winter

2 Tim 4:9-13

9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
ESV

Come Before Winter

 (2 Tim. 4:9-13)

Intro:

              A.  “Hurry up!  It’s time to go!  Do you think we’ve got all day?  We’re gonna be late.  I don’t want to have to tell you again, move it!”  Have you ever had a conversation like this at your home?  With four kids, we had this conversation more than once when all the kids were are home.  And to be honest, it wasn’t a conversation, it was more me having a small tirade.  But it brings me to my point: some things need to be treated with urgency and importance. 

              B.  When Paul brings this letter to Timothy to a close he writes, “Do your best to come to me soon. (vs 9)”  “Do your best to come before winter” (vs 21).  There is a sense of urgency in this writing.  The truth is, Paul feels alone if he isn’t completely alone.  It was the winter of Paul’s life and there were a few things he wanted.  As we walk with Paul through these final words, I pray we will be challenged to consider what’s important, urgent, and desired before our winter comes.

I.  Pass The Torch

              A.  The first point I want to make is the importance of the “next generation” of church leaders.  Listen to Paul (READ 2 Tim. 4:9-12).  The church needs to realize the importance of raising up leaders and encouraging younger men and women to take a stronger leadership role within the congregation.   It’s not just that young people are the future of this church, you are this church.  Right now you are what will drive us forward, help us grow, reach out to those who need to hear about Jesus. 

              B.  Paul loved to travel speaking about Jesus to people who didn’t know Jesus.  Paul loved to train men to take the word of God to other places, but now Paul knew his time was coming to an end, and he needed to pass the torch. So we hear him talk about people that made a difference.

              C.  Paul says to Timothy, come to me soon and by the way, bring Mark with you because he is very useful.  Many remember when Paul was so upset with Mark that he would not let him come with him on the second missionary journey.  So much so that it caused Paul and Barnabas to go their separate ways as they spread the Good News of Jesus.  But here we are, 10 to 20 years later and we find Paul wanting Mark to come with Timothy.  Paul has seen that Mark had made a great change and was very useful to God’s kingdom.

              D.  Here’s my point, sometimes young adults are frustrating to older adults.  Sometimes older adults simply shake their heads in wonder at the immaturity of the younger.  Paul knows that now is the time to lift up the next generation of leaders, to let them take a stronger leadership role for the church they will lead.

              E.  Let me say to those of you who are in 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, the time for you to step into action is now.  The time for you to learn church leadership skills is now.  The time for you to be more active in what happens, how to reach out with the gospel of Jesus, how to impact the community for Christ is now. 

II.  What’s Important

              A.  Paul speaks with urgency in his words.  Telling Timothy to come quickly, to come before winter, because Paul knows that travel during the winter is almost impossible.  If Timothy was going to come to him, the time for Timothy to come was now.  But as much as Paul wanted Timothy and Mark, as blessed as he was with Luke being there, he wanted something personal, his cloak, books and parchments.

              B.  Henry was getting old and as many do he was downsizing.  He was moving from his house of many years into a small apartment.  He was widowed and realized that his health was not as great as it used to be.  He knew he could not take all of his possessions to his apartment and really didn't want to.  What he wanted was someone to go through the process with him.

              C.  He asked Bruce to come over and help, but many of us find other things to do than to help someone go through their personal belongings.  Yet, after being asked several times Bruce realized he needed to go and help this old brother in Christ.  When he got there he expected to find boxes of belongings and planned to spend several hours, but what he found was nothing more than a shoe-box on the kitchen table.  Henry didn't need anyone to go through this personal belongs; he just wanted to tell someone how important these few things were to him.

              D.  Henry pulled out the death certificate of his wife and talked for a while about their marriage, they were never able to have children.  Then Henry pulled out an old picture of his mother and showed it to Bruce.  Henry talked about how his mother read him the Bible every night and was the one that helped him come to know God.  Then there were some newspaper clippings of the mill where Henry had worked for almost 40 years.  He was proud of his work and his life.  Then he piled everything back into the shoe-box and put on the lid and thanked Bruce.

              E.  What's important to you?  When you come to the end of your life, what will be the most important things for you to keep?  What’s in your shoebox?  Paul wanted his cloak, books and parchments.

III.  Paul In The Lion’s Den

              A. We need to feel the emotion and the urgency in this passage.  Paul had sent some people to different places, others left him, some activity worked against him, but Paul knows a truth.  God saves.

              B.  Remember the story of Daniel and in the lion’s den?  Paul does.  Remember how Daniel was put there because of his faith, because he believed in Jehovah?  Paul does.  Listen to Paul (READ 2 Tim. 4:16-18).

              C.  Paul reminds us that we are not alone, even when we feel alone.  Paul reminds us that God knows how to protect his own and even in death, bring them home to him.  Paul’s confidence in God is the same confidence we need.

Conclusion:

              A.  So, here at the end of the last recorded words of the Apostle Paul, we hear him speak to the young man he loved like a son and simply say, “Come before winter.”

              B.  There are many blessings I have had in my life.  There are a few times when I felt alone, but knew I was not.  There are some friends that I have had that continue to love me and know the good and the sin that has been in my life.  But like Paul, Jesus has rescued us from the lion.  James tells us that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  Jesus has stepped in to protect us from Satan.  Jesus went to the cross to die for our sin so that Satan would no longer have victory over us. 

              C.  In the winter of life, when you look into your shoebox, when you surround yourself by that which is important, what will it in your shoebox?  Jesus is precious to you, and I pray that you want the things around that remind you of him and his love.  If you are in your winter of live, let me ask you, “Are you encouraging the younger to step up, giving them your wisdom, guidance and support?” 

              D.  Maybe today, what you need is someone to support you, to come around you and pray with you. Don’t leave today without knowing the love of Jesus and the support of this family.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as you journey through life.

Because of Jesus,

Jeffrey Dillinger, minister