A Good Soldier

2 Timothy 4:9-21
Paul’s last words inspire me. He’s got one foot in the grave...he’s dying, yet he knows the work is not finished. It’s only begun. He tells Timothy, “Come quick!” He's in no mood to coast even though his ministry is now confined to a prison cell. Even in prison he was still reading and writing...he wasn’t fighting with swords and knives...but with paper and pen. When most men would have been fighting for their life, he was fighting for the souls of men. His departure was at hand...and he was ready. He was eager.

Paul is amazing in these last hours of his life. He’s like Babe Ruth swinging for the fence. He’s Michael Jordan dunking on and waving his finger in the face of Dikembe Mutambo. He’s like Mother Theresa choosing to be faithful rather than successful. He’s Ronald Reagan writing notes to his family before Alzhiemer’s took away his mind. He’s Cy Young...nicknamed “Cyclone”... pitching like there’ll never be another game. He’s Walter Cronkite telling Americans one more time the way it is. He’s like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat. He’s Jim Elliot willing to give his life for what he believes in. He’s Larry Bird, leaving it all on the court, scoring 60 points against Atlanta in 1985. He’s George Beverly Shea still singing “I’d Rather Have Jesus” at 101 years old. He’s Billy Graham still preaching, “The Bible says...” at 91 years old. He’s Dale Earnheardt on his last lap...in his last race at the Daytona 500. He’s George Foreman...too old to be in the ring, but still swinging for all he’s worth. Wow.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul is a dying man, sure of what was ahead...and still preaching in prison. He was...True to Christ...True to the cross...True to the end!
He said, "Don't Waiver!" 4:1-5 Preach the Gospel...don't listen to the crowd...stay true to what matters most! Love God and listen to Him!
He said, "Don't Worry!" 4:6-8 "I'll be alright, see you in heaven" Paul didn't worry about dying...he had lived well. He was going to be with Jesus!
He said, "Don't Wait!" 4:9,13,21 Get here Quick! His message to Timothy...to believers and a message to all the lost..."don't wait!" Do what you need to do while you can. Come quickly.

Most everyone has read or heard about the midnight ride of Paul Revere in 1775 when he rode through the streets crying “The British are coming..”. But few have heard of Israel Bissel. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Bissel was ordered to raise the alarm in New Haven, Connecticut. He reached Worchester, Massachesetts, normally a day's ride, in two hours. There, according to tradition, his horse immediately dropped dead. Pausing only to find another horse, Bissel pressed on and by April 22 was in New Haven--but he didn't stop there! He rode on to New York, arriving April 24, and then stayed in the saddle until he reached Philadelphia the next day. Bissel rode for 126 hours almost nonstop....that’s 345 miles getting word to American military units to prepare for war. Pretty amazing ride for a man named Israel.

Paul’s ride was even more amazing. And now on his death-bed, he is concerned about one thing only. “Timothy, come quick...and don’t quit!” Don’t stop telling people about Jesus. Those are the famous last words of a good soldier of Jesus Christ.