I’ve been studying in Second Timothy lately and knowing it is Paul’s final letter before his death, I have tried to study it very carefully. A person that knows he is about to soon die chooses his final words carefully. I knew that Paul would have carefully considered what he wanted to say to his son in the faith and I wanted to spend some time lingering over his words. I like to underline things in my Bible and after several times reading through this book, I have underlined most of the book.
Paul reminds young Timothy that “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind” in the seventh verse of the first chapter. In fact, a lot of the book is encouraging Timothy and all believers actually, to be strong in their faith and to endure like good soldiers of the faith. Paul tells him that hard times will come but God is able to get Him through. He often reminds him of the importance of clinging to God’s Word and the importance of studying and knowing Scripture.
There are a lot of good things to be gained from studying Second Timothy and I highly recommend that you take some time to read this short but very useful and important book. But I have to be honest, the verse that has seared into my subconscious and haunted me as I have studied the book may surprise you. There are a lot of great spiritual nuggets in this book and a lot of sound theology, but this verse isn’t one of them. This verse is actually a very personal request from Paul to Timothy.
Paul has already told Timothy he wants to see him again and the verse that has been haunting me is verse twenty-one in the last chapter of Second Timothy. Paul is closing his letter to Timothy and he says, “Do your utmost to come before winter.” There they are, seven words that have been pricking away at me every since I started this study of Second Timothy. Paul wanted to see his spiritual son one more time before he died. And I can’t help but wonder if Timothy made it.
I have tried researching to find out if Timothy ever made it back to see Paul before he died but I cannot find any clear answers. Some think he may have but others do not. I don’t know. I hope he did. I don’t know why this has bothered me like it has but it has really torn at my heart. I know this my sound crazy but I actually cried one morning as I was reading this again and I thought of the Apostle Paul writing these words from prison, hoping to see Timothy one last time.
“Do your utmost to come before winter.” Why before winter, I asked. After more research, I realized that Paul knew he may not make it till the spring and Paul also knew how harsh the winter could be. He knew how difficult it would be for Timothy to travel to see him once winter began. He was basically saying, “Please come see me while you still can.” I can only hope that Timothy left as soon as he could and made it in time to see Paul before he was martyred for his faith in Christ.
Maybe that’s why it bugs me so much. I know how easy it is to procrastinate! How many times do we put things off because we think we can do it later? How often do we wait to do something thinking there will be another chance to take care of it? But we are not promised tomorrow! We do not know the future. We may not have as much time as we think. Or maybe someone we love won’t always be here forever and we need to love them today.
Perhaps the reason I am so moved by this verse is because I know what it is like to miss someone and wish they weren’t gone. I know what it’s like to wish I had one more day to love them, to see them, to show them I care. I also know what it’s like to look back with regret on opportunities I’ve missed or things I’ve missed out on because I was too busy. Sometimes we get so busy, we forget to live; we forget what is truly important in life.
I don’t want to look back on my life and realize I let the winter creep up on me and steal away precious opportunities. I don’t want to miss opportunities to live, to love, to laugh, to visit someone that needs me, to share hope when someone needed it. I don’t want to miss out on the blessings that God has for me because I was too busy or too blind to see them. I want to live in the moment fully aware of all that God has blessed me with and I want to honor Him with all of my heart.
Most of all I want to do everything He is asking me to do for Him…before the winter comes. So, my question to you today my sweet friends, is this. What do you need to do before winter comes? Is there something tugging at your heart that needs to be dealt with? Is there something God is asking you to do but you have been putting it off? Is there someone you need to go and visit? My challenge to you today is simple. Do it! Don’t put it off any longer! Take care of it before winter comes.
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Grace be with you. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:22
Katrina Douglas
