Ready to go home
I have a friend from my college days that has been fighting cancer for over 3 years. I received word this morning that he has just weeks to live. Tim was told just over a year ago that he had a month and a half to live. This time, all the accompanying signs of impending death are present. I fully expect that I will read of his homegoing before the end of the month. It is certainly sad, and I am praying for his wife and his 2 kids as they traverse these troubled waters.
As I have prayed with a heavy heart today, God reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:6-8. The apostle Paul's circumstances were different in some ways. Paul was not sick with a disease that would take his life. He had faced persecution for many years and felt he would soon give his life for the sake of the gospel. He recognized that his time was near.
But in other ways, Paul and my friend Tim are similar. Tim has faithfully served the Lord in several local churches over the last 30 years or so. He has been used of God to minister in music and to be a blessing to many as he spoke and taught. In the past year, he has maintained a speaking schedule in Sunday school classes, local college classes and various other venues that would keep anybody tired out. He prayed for grace to endure until the end and worked until he simply couldn't.
Today, it was his wife writing the update because he couldn't even do that. It's not a lack of faith that acknowledges that life is near its end. If that were true, Paul didn't have much faith. It is a recognition that we have come to the end of our road and that God has accomplished everything through us that it appears He is going to. Its a willingness to let go and recognize that "the time of our departure is at hand."
Tim is not just going to finish the race; he is going to burst through the tape at the finish line. His mom and dad are waiting there as are the other members of that "cloud of witnesses" talked about elsewhere. Some day, when God is finished with me, I'll join him. That's a wonderful and comforting confidence to have.
Until that day comes, it's my job to learn from my friend's example and continue to run the race that is set before me. I want to get to the end (however far away that is) and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Soon Tim will be experiencing this when Jesus meets him at the "door" of Heaven:
Well done Tim. To God be the glory.
As I have prayed with a heavy heart today, God reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:6-8. The apostle Paul's circumstances were different in some ways. Paul was not sick with a disease that would take his life. He had faced persecution for many years and felt he would soon give his life for the sake of the gospel. He recognized that his time was near.
But in other ways, Paul and my friend Tim are similar. Tim has faithfully served the Lord in several local churches over the last 30 years or so. He has been used of God to minister in music and to be a blessing to many as he spoke and taught. In the past year, he has maintained a speaking schedule in Sunday school classes, local college classes and various other venues that would keep anybody tired out. He prayed for grace to endure until the end and worked until he simply couldn't.
Today, it was his wife writing the update because he couldn't even do that. It's not a lack of faith that acknowledges that life is near its end. If that were true, Paul didn't have much faith. It is a recognition that we have come to the end of our road and that God has accomplished everything through us that it appears He is going to. Its a willingness to let go and recognize that "the time of our departure is at hand."
Tim is not just going to finish the race; he is going to burst through the tape at the finish line. His mom and dad are waiting there as are the other members of that "cloud of witnesses" talked about elsewhere. Some day, when God is finished with me, I'll join him. That's a wonderful and comforting confidence to have.
Until that day comes, it's my job to learn from my friend's example and continue to run the race that is set before me. I want to get to the end (however far away that is) and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Soon Tim will be experiencing this when Jesus meets him at the "door" of Heaven:
Well done Tim. To God be the glory.
Praying for your friend and his family.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post as I think about seeing my Mom and Son in Heaven one day too.