I would like to begin this sermon by asking you a question: What does a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer have in common? They are all occupations that require perseverance! Soldiers, athletes, and farmers all face adversities which require tremendous patience and steadfast endurance to achieve their respective goals, whether it is prevailing in battle, winning a competition, or reaping a bountiful harvest.
In II Timothy 2:1-13, the Apostle Paul uses all three of these occupations as metaphors to encourage his young colleague Timothy to persevere in his Christian faith and remain loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul knew that Timothy was young, timid, and was ministering in a spiritually vulnerable environment in Ephesus. He had been standing against the false teachers and trying to restore order to the church, but he had experienced only minimal success. So, Paul, persevering on his own deathbed in a Roman prison, writes to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. In verses 1-7 he utters a call to perseverance in the faith, and in verses 8-13 he highlights the benefits of perseverance in the faith.
The Call to Perseverance in the Faith (1-7)
Paul begins his call to perseverance by commanding Timothy, his son in the faith, to “be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.” He wants Timothy to draw on divine strength to sustain him through this difficult time, rather than relying on his own power or ingenuity. God’s grace, which is his unmerited favor, not only saves Christians from their sins and grants them assurance of heaven, but it gives them supernatural strength to bear the burdens of this life now. This grace has been offered through the work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.
The first task that Timothy is to be strengthened for is entrusting Paul’s words and teachings to reliable men who would be qualified to teach others. These were the things that Timothy heard Paul say in the presence of many witnesses throughout his ministry. “These things” certainly encompass the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ which had been passed on to the apostles. As Paul draws close to death, he does not want the gospel to die with him. He wanted Timothy to entrust it to reliable people who would continue to pass it on to others.
Paul’s command to Timothy to pass along the gospel reinforces the mission of the church that was first established by Jesus himself. The gospel was never meant to be hidden or stored away. The good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is meant to be spread to the nations. As Christians, it is still our job to share, teach, and train other people in the gospel. Are you entrusting the gospel to reliable people who will pass it on to others? Are you sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with your children, grandchildren, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors? Like Paul, we should make sure that the message of Christ doesn’t end with our generation! But let us lean of his divine strength and power to do it!
Persevere like a Soldier (3-4)
Paul knew that continued ministry of the gospel would mean continued personal suffering. Therefore, Paul employs three graphic metaphors to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. First, he says “share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Paul was certainly suffering in prison, so he invites Timothy to join him and compares this suffering to that of a soldier. The life of a soldier in ancient times had more than his share of suffering. In addition to the constant threat of opposing armies, soldiers often went days without food and would be away from their families for years at a time.
Paul continues to elaborate on the perseverance of a soldier when, in verse 4, he says that soldiers do not get entangled in civilian pursuits because his goal is to please his commanding officer. While on duty, soldiers had to have a single-minded focus. If they became preoccupied with outside concerns, they would put themselves and their whole company in danger. Likewise, Paul called Timothy to that same single-minded focus on his ministry; he should not be distracted by the things of the world.
There is a great story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and Yogi as usual was keeping up his ceaseless trash-talk, intending to frustrate the Milwaukee batters. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he blasted it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.”
We should not be distracted by the cares of the world, the trash talk of others, or our own personal sufferings. In our faith and ministry, we must have the same single-minded devotion and perseverance as a soldier!
Persevere as an Athlete (5)
After Paul uses the analogy of a soldier, he continues to call Timothy to perseverance in the faith by using the metaphor of an athlete. In Greco-Roman times, Olympic athletes were required to enter a grueling ten-month training period. This training required an incredible amount of physical and mental endurance. The athlete would also have to constantly rehearse the rules of the contest, lest he be stripped of his crown for cheating or breaking the rules.
Breaking the rules in athletics results in disqualification and disgrace—just look at Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds. I had been thinking about entering the Tour de France, but then I found out that they banned blood-doping and the local pharmacy didn’t carry “the cream or the clear,” so I decided against it.
Like athletic competitions, the Christian life and ministry requires adherence to certain rules regarding attitude, conduct, and belief. Those who persevere in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ will receive their reward on Judgment Day. Those who try to claim the prize without a commitment to faithful obedience will be disqualified. A fair and true Christian life requires great perseverance. Are you competing according to God’s rules? Or are you trying to cut corners in your faith?
Persevere like a Farmer (6)
In addition to the soldier and athlete, the third metaphor Paul uses to call Timothy to perseverance in the faith is that of a farmer. Farming was very common in the ancient world and everyone knew that it required hard work and patience (i.e. perseverance). The farming life had many adversities with which to contend: primitive equipment, diseases, drought, hail, wind, pestilence, thieves, etc. If the farmer became negligent or lazy about dealing with these problems, he would not reap a bountiful harvest. But if the farmer would persevere until the end of his labor, he will have the first share of his crop.
Likewise, the Christian life and ministry requires a lot of hard work and patience. We face adversities during every season, but if we remain consistent in our personal faith and steadfast in our ministry to others, we will reap a bountiful spiritual harvest. We will reap eternal life for ourselves and blessings for those around us!
Maybe some of you are facing adversities in your life and ministry right now. Perhaps you are dealing with a debilitating disease or physical condition? Maybe you are going through a spiritual drought or feeling discouraged because you don’t feel the presence of God in your life? Maybe you are being hammered by the hail of relational conflict or whipped by the winds of worry? Perhaps you are being pounded by the pestilence of people (where there are people everywhere driving you crazy)? Whatever adversity you are experiencing right now, hang in there! It will pass! Persevere like the hardworking farmer!
The Benefits of Perseverance in the Faith (8-13)
Well, after Paul uses the metaphors of the soldier, athlete, and farmer and calls Timothy to think over this life of perseverance, he goes on to explain some of the benefits of perseverance in the faith in verses 8-13. To help Timothy persevere in his faith, he challenges him to remember Jesus Christ, who was a descendant of King David, and who after he was crucified also rose from the dead. By remembering the sufferings of Jesus, who was fully divine and fully human, would help him persevere through pain and suffering. Paul also tells Timothy to remember Paul’s chains. Knowing that Paul, his mentor and close friend, was suffering would also inspire him persevere.
But in verse10, Paul discloses the ultimate reason why he endures such suffering—it is so that the elect might “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” The elect are those whom God has chosen to receive his grace. It is amazing to realize what Paul is saying here. He is not suffering for the sake of his own salvation; he is suffering for the sake of others’ salvation. The ultimate benefit of perseverance is salvation and eternal glory—not only for self, but for others too!
Paul presses these benefits even further by introducing another one of his “trustworthy saying” which was probably a fragment from a well-known creed or hymn. In this case, the saying expresses the truth that people who give themselves to Jesus Christ and endure to the end will live and reign with him, but those who deny him in this life will be denied in the life to come. Even in spite of human unfaithfulness, Christ is always faithful to the cause of his church.
The words of this hymn evoke some questions for our hearts today. Have you died with him—that is, have you given your heart to Jesus Christ and have received him as Lord and Savior? Are you enduring in your faith right now—that is, are you enduring with Christ in the midst of your current adversities and sufferings? How much are you willing to suffer for Jesus Christ? Think about how much he was willing to suffer for you? The benefits of perseverance in the faith are a bold witness to others now and eternal glory in the future!
Well, now that we have seen the benefits of perseverance in the faith, let me take you back to Paul’s call for perseverance. With regard to whatever you are facing in your life or faith right now or in the future, I hope and pray that you will have the perseverance of a soldier, and athlete, and a farmer!