ONLY ONE LIFE

Scripture Text:  2 Timothy 4:7

Paul was ready for his departure. Christians do not die but only transfer their address or their place from earth to heaven. Death is only a departure to a better place.

God says, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” and our Lord Jesus says, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matt 22:32). It means that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living with the Lord at the moment. No matter how old you and I are, we do not die once we are born again and have eternal life in Christ.

These days are the last days. The world is no more a safe place to stay or travel. Socially, people are selfish and they only love themselves. In churches, many professing Christians are outwardly lovely and nice but they do not believe in God’s Word, “only having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim 3:5). There are more earthquakes, typhoons, diseases, and so forth. Morality is declining, and people love sins and worldly pleasures, not God. All these things are happening at the same time to warn us that our Lord and Saviour is coming very soon. Then what is the purpose of your life?

Only One Life

To study and work is right, but it alone is not the best. We are to do all for the Lord. We are to serve the Lord. What have we done for the Lord? Jesus will come back soon as He promised. He will come back suddenly and it may be now and today. We only have one life. If you offer your life to the Lord, your life will be far more interesting and meaningful as Jesus says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

A Fulfilled Life

The apostle Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (v 7). “I have fought a good fight”: this is the picture of a soldier. “I have finished my course”: this is the picture of a sportsman or an athlete. “I have kept the faith”: this is the picture of a steward.

A Soldier

What are the qualities of a soldier? What is a soldier required to do? A soldier has to be loyal to his master and be willing to lay down his life for his country. He must be brave and courageous. Are you a soldier of the Lord? We also have lady soldiers here. That does not mean we go here and there carrying weapons and fighting like religious terrorists. The Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:11-12). There is a spiritual warfare in Christian life against Satan and sins. In this spiritual warfare, you may be tempted to go against God’s Word.  People may despise you, persecute you and even kill you, but be brave and be not afraid. You must be a loyal soldier of the Lord.

A Sportsman/Athlete

What is a sportsman supposed to do? He has to look at the goal ahead of him and run until he reaches the finish line although he may be the last one left behind in the race. He cannot give up and step aside in the midst of the race. He is to persevere, discipline and train himself to finish the course. We see people use the blinkers (blinders) to put at the side of a horse’s eyes so that it can only see forward or else it is easily distracted by the surroundings and cannot run forward ahead. We Christians are to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1). Paul is determined to press toward the mark, saying, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before . . . for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philip 3:13-14) and “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beat the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection …” (1 Cor 9:26-27).

A Steward

What is required of a steward? It is his faithfulness, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor 4:2). We are to be faithful in keeping our faith. What does it mean? It is to keep our faith in God’s Word, in the teaching of the Bible, and in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, rose again, ascended to heaven and will come back again, and will establish His kingdom of peace on earth for one thousand years. And then God will make a new heaven and a new earth. Those who have Jesus Christ will not be judged but will live with God forever in heaven. Those who do not have Jesus Christ will suffer in the lake of fire forever and ever. That is the faith we are to keep.

This is the second time Paul was in prison. Knowing that he would be executed soon, Paul said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (v 6). Paul meant that he was willing to pour out his life as a drink-offering, to be put to death for the sake of his Master Jesus Christ. Looking back at his life, Paul was able to say, “I have fought a good fight (as a loyal and brave soldier), I have finished my course (as a disciplined and persevering sportsman), I have kept the faith (as a faithful steward)” (v 7).  How about you and me? Are we willing to pour out our lives as a living and holy sacrifice? Whatever God says in His Word, we must do or obey as loyal soldiers, persevering sportsmen, and faithful stewards. You and I cannot improve on God’s Word, the Holy Bible. God is all-knowing and is infinitely wise. So we can never know better than God. You and I must be faithful in our preaching, teaching and living.

The Reward

After we have finished our course, what is our reward? Will there be any reward for a loyal soldier, a persevering sportsman and a faithful steward? Yes, surely as Paul said, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (v 8).

As sinners coming short of God’s glory and righteousness, it is a great reward for us to be given a crown of righteousness that the Lord has reserved for His loyal, persevering and faithful servants and children, who love and look forward to His coming.

Conclusion

My dear brethren, what God wants  you and me to do, let us do it willingly and faithfully so that when we depart from this world or when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back, we will meet Him with joy and gladness. Let us give the rest of our lives to the Lord and live for Him. You and I only have one life to live. God has called me and I have given my life to Him, and now I pass the message to you. Give your life to the Lord and serve Him till He comes. Amen.