THE REFUGE

The Apostle Paul’s journey through this life was coming to an end. The aged man had fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. His life was a life of struggle, one in whom The Lord had divinely called. He had endured much persecution and had the scars upon his body to prove it. He rejoiced in his suffering, filling up the measure in his flesh what was lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church. He had reasoned with kings and governors, he had written many letters, and he had plead with all peoples, whether Jew or Greek, to come faith and receive the mercy of The Lord Jesus Christ.

As the final season of his life comes to a close, He writes to his beloved Timothy with tears in his eyes. Timothy was a young man who followed closely in his footsteps and he loved him very much. He was his son of the faith and Paul made sure he was taken care of on all of their missionary journeys. The Apostle longs to see him one last time before he is executed, so he tells him to come quickly. But in case he doesn’t make it, the Apostle leaves him one last charge, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” As the sun begins to set upon Paul’s life he wants his beloved Timothy to not worry about him, so he tells him, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

O, the confidence and joy of the child of God in Whom the Holy Spirit has wrought saving faith upon their soul. It is a faith that is an everlasting faith. It is an enduring faith. It is a faith that can climb to the highest mountains of adoration as the heart ascends to the presence of God, singing, “Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord, you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name.” It is also a faith that can descend into the lowest valleys of life, in a time when death puts its grips upon you and you feel your life slipping away, faith then cries an anthem of victory, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” On that day every demon in hell cannot tempt you, the iron furnace of affliction will be no more, and the pains of sin will flee away. For The Lord will rescue you from every evil deed, and will bring you safely to His heavenly kingdom. Amen.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Timothy 4:18 NASBS