(Part 1: Introductory Overview of 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Can you be sure you are going the right way in life?
Years ago, I traveled through Hollyrood, Kansas, population 447. This was Hollyrood with an “R” and not the big west coast city with the large white sign on the side of a hill. This was Hollyrood, not Hollywood.
I was driving northeast from the Oklahoma panhandle to Salina, Kansas, with no interstate available. After spending microseconds in Hollyrood, I came to a fork in the road. There was a highway sign pointed east and another pointed north.
This was a time before GPS location devices and Siri advised directional turn-by-turn guidance commentary. I lived in the prehistoric days which my granddaughter refers to as the time when the world was only black and white. Apparently, the colors of the rainbow appeared to a subsequent generation.
Outside Hollyrood, I rolled into a gas station located at the Y-junction. There were no parking spaces, only room to pull in next to the gas pump where I was quickly greeted by a grinning Gomer Pyle straight out of Mayberry.
He shouted, “Howdy!” His cap was turned slightly sideways, like the modern ‘gangsta-cool’ style adopted by so many young men from all walks of life. That is kind of generationally funny. Gangsta-cool is really a Gomer-grinning knock-off. Rap to that!
When I asked Gomer which direction was the best highway to Salina, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and responded with a “Whew, I’m not sure. I’ve never gone there.”
It was quite the conundrum, although Gomer called it a “a real head-scratching pickle.” He swore he did not know anyone who ever left town going east but did recall a few who tried the northern route but quickly added he had not seen them since.
Gomer’s parting words were, “Hope y’all find your destination.”
Don’t we all?
We live in a time where people need trustworthy directions for their lives. Some have no clue. Some blindly follow others. Some just strike out on their own self-centered instincts. Some offer Siri-style spiritual counsel. Some follow man-made maps. Some follow a hellbent road while hoping it ends up at the heavenly gate.
WE WILL ALL END UP AT THE DESTINATION OF THE ROAD WE TRAVEL.
(Think about that.)
That was the issue in the #1 Textbook when Paul shared his final words with Timothy. Paul was imprisoned awaiting execution and departure for his heavenly home. His lifelong journey had been course-corrected by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Young Timothy was on the right spiritual path but the way ahead looked dark and dangerous, remarkably like the Y-junction awaiting our next steps.
The worldly culture was adrift in a cesspool formed by the dirty tributaries, love of self and love of money.
The church was apart from its twin anchors of truth and devotion to Christ, attracted by cultural comforts and inundated by compromised counsel.
The #1 Textbook reminds us that spiritual direction in life is of far more importance than physical direction. You face a plethora of options on your life road map. What directions will you follow in life?
Here is the Main Point:
ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED (v. 16).
IT IS THE #1 TEXTBOOK, ALWAYS and FOREVER.
GOD’S WORD IS ABSOLUTE AND EVERLASTING TRUTH THAT IS ALWAYS TRUE AND TRUSTWORTHY, ALWAYS RELIABLE AND RELEVANT, ALWAYS SUPREME AND SUFFICIENT.
Here is the Main Application:
STAY THE COURSE! Continue in what you learned and believed (v. 14).
If we are headed to heaven, we need to be confident in our direction and ability to stay on course when confronted with those whY-junctions along the way.
Where do you get directions to your heavenly home when the fog of cultural confusion clouds the horizon?
Can you trust the #1 Textbook? Of course, but how can you be sure?
The Young Rascals sang,
How can I be sure
In a world that’s constantly changing?
How can I be sure?
I really really really wanna know
I really really really wanna know.
Paul sang a different tune, one that shared trustworthy direction in life while traveling through a world that is constantly changing.
Here is the REXplore Introduction of 2 Timothy 3 found in the #1 Textbook.
- CONTEXT:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty, literally, terrible times. (v. 1).
The biggest problem in this world is a love problem.
- Wrong Love
For people will be lovers of self (self-centeredness), lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure … rather than lovers of God (vs. 2-4).
- Fake Love
having the appearance of godliness but denying its power (v. 5) while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (v. 13).
- True Love
(i) FOLLOW (the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ).
You, however, have FOLLOWED my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and sufferings (v. 10).
(ii) CONTINUE (Stay the Course).
But as for you, CONTINUE (literally, stay the course) in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings (vs 14-15).
2. CONCLUSION:
- We live in a world that mass produces various man-centered maps just as it did in the days Paul shared life directions with Timothy.
- STAY THE COURSE. CONTINUOUSLY LEARN AND CONTINUOUSLY BELIEVE GOD’S WORD.
Why?
(i) It is the only TRUSTWORTHY MAP FOR LIFE.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (v. 16).
(ii) It is the only source for WISDOM, the God-given ability to see, understand, and live life from God’s perspective and for God’s purpose.
The sacred writings are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (v. 15).
(iii) It is the only POWER which can transform and equip your life for God’s purpose. It is Life-changing
… so that the man of Godmay be complete, equipped for every good work (v. 17).
Introduction Summary:
CONTINUE LEARNING AND BELIEVING IN GOD’S WORD WITH CONFIDENCE.
STAY THE COURSE. NEVER STOP.
We live in world where love of self and love of money are two tributaries flowing into one giant cultural cesspool. No one has been to our heavenly destination. No one knows what to believe or how to behave. But there is no shortage of opinions, books, blogs, talk shows, or religious pretense.
The only trustworthy (sure and safe) life map to your heavenly home is found in the ability, authority, and sufficiency of God’s Word to govern, guide, and guard our lives through these dangerous times.
Follow … Continue … Stay the Course … This was originally a navigational term to indicate maintaining a constant, unaltered path. The term was later used as a military phrase commanding continued PURSUIT OF THE GOAL regardless of obstacles, opposition, circumstance, cost, or criticism.
For the next few sessions, we will consider:
How to Stay the Course in a World Adrift in a Cesspool of Self-Love
and a Church Apart in Cultural Confusion.
EYES UP! STAY THE COURSE!
CONTINUE TO LOVE FIRST AND LOVE MOST!
CONTINUE IN GOD’S WORD.
IT IS THE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY MAP FOR LIFE DIRECTIONS!
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 