03.06.03

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. - 2 Timothy 1:12.

BMW has a new offering for those who may believe their security is threatened. This vehicle can stand up to fire from an M16 rifle but that is only one aspect of this amazing car. It can also withstand the explosion of two grenades and having its tires flattened and still travel at 50 mph. You can purchase one for yourself for only a few hundred thousand dollars. Or perhaps you would prefer a Land Rover for $263,100 or a Mercedes of comparable security for a couple of hundred thousand more? For most of us that simply isn’t an option and we will just have to face life without our armored vehicle.

I’ve known several people over the years who were at one time faithful servants of God but something happened and they stopped serving God. In fact they became bitter and angry people. What happened? In one person’s life it was a combination of things ending with the loss of a business. In another person’s life it was when a Christian he looked up to failed. In another’s it was when a loved one died. In another it was the devastating illness of a loved one. Those events in the life of some Christians appear to be even more catastrophic than the explosion of a grenade under their feet.

How about your faith? How strong and tough is your faith? If your faith took a hit, would you continue to love and serve your God? What would happen if you suffered a debilitating disease and you asked God several times to heal you and He said “No?” In addition you were thrown into prison a few times, beaten with rods three separate times, whipped five different times, you were stoned, shipwrecked, went hungry, didn’t have enough clothes to keep you warm and were bitten by a poisonous snake? If that happened to you would you do as Job’s wife suggested and just, “Curse God and die (Job 2:9b)!” Those things didn’t happen to Job but they did happen to the apostle Paul who just kept on serving and loving God more and more and more (2 Corinthians 11:22-28; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Acts 28:1-6).

Paul instructs Timothy in how he can have a grenade proof faith. He tells Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (3 Timothy 2:1)”, and to “hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13).” Paul continues to instruct Timothy and tells him, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3).” Paul says that he can, “endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).” Paul warns Timothy and others to, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…(2 Timothy 2:22-25a).” Paul also relates the great value of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:10-17).

The apostle Paul sums it all up by saying, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen (2 Timothy 4:17-18)!” God will do the same for you and me if we will follow the instructions and example, which has been so faithfully given to us.