He Is Very Useful to Me – 2 Timothy 4:9-18

At the end of his life, people were important to Paul.  His friends and co-laborers could either bring him comfort or distress.  The same was true for Jesus.  He wanted his three closest disciples, Peter, James and John, to pray with him in the garden.  John stayed with him through his illegal trials, but Peter deserted and denied him.  You, too, can be either a comfort or a cause for stress to one who is dying.

Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  (2 Timothy 4:9-18 ESV)

Despite the fact that Paul sees his death as an entrance into more perfect fellowship with the Lord, the process of facing death is fraught with pain.  Paul experienced:

Desertion by friends…Though he purposely sent several of his teammates out to minister to churches, some, like Demas, left because they were afraid and abandoned Paul.  So Paul asks Timothy to come and to bring John Mark, the one who accompanied him on his first missionary journey and deserted him and Barnabas then.  Now he has reconciled with Mark and needs him.

Discomfort…Without his cloak he has been cold and without his books he cannot study the Scriptures as he longs to.

Detestation…The hatred of Alexander the coppersmith led Alexander to get Paul arrested.  But the Lord will repay all injustice and hatred.

Deliverance…At his first trial, though alone, God was with Paul and delivered him from the death sentence, though not from prison.  He was able to proclaim the gospel fully.  He knows, however, that his next deliverance will be into the Lord’s heavenly kingdom upon his demise physically.

To God be the glory forever and ever!