Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10 & 11; 2 Timothy 1; Hosea 2; Psalm 119:97-120
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
These powerful, inspired words were written from a prison cell. Paul was not ashamed even though he was locked up in jail. Most people who are locked up are there for doing something immoral. However, Paul was locked up for preaching the gospel. As he wrote to encourage Timothy and us, he was pointing out that he was just as determined as ever that the preaching of the cross was absolutely necessary and he was not moved.
He knew who he believed. He knew Jesus! He had a relationship with his Creator and Savior. Jesus said:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Eternal life is knowing Jesus Christ. Do you know him? Paul was persuaded that Christ was able to keep what Paul had entrusted to him. What exactly had Paul put in Jesus’ trust? He had put his heart in Jesus’ trust. He had put his physical life in Jesus’ trust. He had put his eternal destiny in the trust of Jesus Christ. The day is coming when every man will stand before their Creator and answer for the life they lived on this earth. As Paul thought about that day, he was ready because he trusted Christ with his eternity.
This is a magnificent passage about the confidence a believer can have in Jesus. Paul was not afraid of losing his salvation. He trusted Jesus and he knew that his sins were taken away. He knew that when Jesus was ready for him to come home, he would take Paul. He had no fear of death because he knew it would be a glorious homecoming for him.
Do you have this kind of confidence as you think about eternity? You may not be as close to death as Paul was, but we never really know how close we are, do we? There is only one way to have confidence as we consider standing before God. We must trust completely in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. Then we can have confidence that we are forgiven and as God raised Jesus from the dead, he will raise us from the dead too!
In Christ,
Rody
