Fallen But Striving
BRD REFLECTIONS:
2 Timothy 3 and Psalm 92 (NIV)
(Audie Lim, Christian Believer Facilitator)
READ
2 Timothy 3 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The passage opens with Paul talking about the godlessness of people in the last days. In verses 6-9, there is a description of the evil that is happening. Further on in verses 10-13, Paul describes the cost of godly living in such a culture. Then in verses 14-16, he exhorts Timothy to continue in what he has learnt and believed from Scripture, and ends with that well known declaration about the divine origin, use and purpose of Scripture.
APPLY:
In describing the godlessness of people, Paul uses expressions like – “lovers of money”, “lovers of self”, “proud”, “disobedient”, and “arrogant”. He talks of such persons having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. And although Paul was alerting Timothy to the reality of being a disciple in a sea of corrupted beings, these words ring familiar – in my life. Paul might as well have been warning Timothy about me, and he would be right on every count. This is the Paul who observes in Romans 3:10 that “…None is righteous, no, not one….”. I am reminded that save for Jesus’s work on the cross, I am one of the none. I am all at once sober about my own inherent depravity.
Paul goes on to affirm Timothy of his faithful following; then in the same breath warns that if he follows Paul’s example of pursuing godliness, that he too will suffer as Paul did. Of this narrative, it strikes me that every saint has a duty to encourage another. Paul’s warning to Timothy also reacquaints me with the costly reality of following Christ. The narrowness of this gate is to me, unmistakably contrarian to the wide gate of the world’s call for broad mindedness without God.
To this end, Paul encourages Timothy to continue in what he has learned and believed in the “sacred writings”. I am particularly drawn by Paul’s use of the phrase “continue in”. It reminds me of what Jesus said in John 15:7 about abiding in Him, where “to abide” may allude to similar expressions like – stay the course, to take up residence, persevere to the end, to remain in, to be loyal and steadfast. I am drawn to this expression because so much of worldly life champions progression; a notion that advancement can only come from breaking free from something rather than continuing in something with steadfastness. For example, have I not pursued more money just to advance my pleasure? Have I not served power in want for more? Have I not embellished my stories to gain more admiration? As I ponder more about this, have I seriously done anything out of pure, unadulterated love for God? The list goes on, and they are all part of what Paul refers to as godlessness. One might have thought it reasonable for Paul to tell Timothy to advance in his learning and belief, but no. What Paul tells Timothy is to “continue in”. In what? In the sacred writings he has already learnt and believed from childhood. He emphasises the conservative impulse to keep the faith rather than the liberal impulse to break free from tradition. It is reminiscent of Jeremiah 6:16 where the Lord says to ask for the ancient paths.
DO:
I shall more readily acknowledge my depravity insomuch that I shall also more readily acknowledge my need for God. I shall more readily accept the cost of following Christ and strive to stay on the narrow path. I shall endeavour to be more generous with encouragement to others. And I shall bid to continue in what I have learnt from the sacred writings. But should I come to a fork in the road, may I have the humility to ask for the ancient paths.
PRAY:
Father God, thank you for revealing to me the fallenness of my being. Thank you for stirring in me the yearning for your righteousness. Keep me on the narrow path. Draw me into your word. Turn my heart towards you and grant me understanding, so that I may be in love with you, live faithfully as you command.
