Joel M Bradshaw

6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.–2 Timothy 4

I recently visited an old friend in the ICU wing of the hospital. He has cancer and the doctors were advising him to get his affairs in order. He and another friend were talking about his finances and I asked about what he wants for a funeral. Does he have a favorite hymn? Does he have a plan for letting people know?

But then I took the conversation into another direction. I said, “Friend, if this is your final season, don’t go to God bitter. As you are trapped in your hospital bed, go to God in faith and lament your issues and fears to him. He cares for you. Don’t carry them with you to eternity. Finish well, my friend.”

I see Paul doing that here. In humility he saw his efforts as the little drink offering poured at the end of the sacrifice rather than the meat or the grain. Paul considered himself the small part that made it sweeter rather than the big part that made all the difference. We who read Scripture know that Paul is basically alone in his category, but he didn’t see himself that way. What good perspective for each of us!

Paul longed for Jesus and for Heaven. We get so caught up in this world that we miss that sometimes. There were matters Paul couldn’t control and others he could. He was going to finish well. I pray that for my friend and for each of you in the season you are in!–JMB