Come Before Winter

2 Timothy 4:13-21 "The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. [14] Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: [15]  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. [16] At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. [18]  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [19] Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. [20]  Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. [21]  Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren."

Napoleon Bonapart was a man who sought greatness, but ended his life imprisoned because the peace of the world demanded it. In prison he had the remembrance of homes and cities that he had wrecked in pursuit of world conquest. His efforts shed rivers of blood. As he came to the end of his life, the saddest comment ever recorded were his words "I wonder if there is anyone in the world who really loves me?"

Paul the Apostle, on the other hand, was a man of peace, imprisoned because the world did not want to hear about the perfect peace that comes through Christ. In prison he remembered the homes he had wrecked prior to his conversion to our Lord, but he also remembered the homes, cities, and nations that were blessed by his Spirit empowered ministry. Paul loved all men, and from his lonely prison in Rome he sent out messages of hope that literally glowed with the Power of God.

A man is truly fortunate in this life if he has a few friends on whom he can utterly rely. In our day and age this is a rare thing. We are all so rushed, rushing to work and back to family. Our plates are "full", and we often have no time to seek after and cultivate true friendship as we should. But Paul was blessed, for he had three friends that he trusted with his entire being.

First, he had Jesus as a friend, a friend who stood beside him in the most terrible of sufferings.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

Jesus told His disciples:

John 15:14  "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

And Paul was, indeed, a disciple of Jesus. He did as Jesus asked, did as Jesus commanded. You see, to him the words of Jesus were more than just words, but they were requests from a Great Commander who was also a Great Friend. Jesus laid down His life for Paul, then called Paul to a great ministry, then stood beside Paul day and night as he ministered through the harsh trials of life. Jesus was his Friend, and Paul's life showed it.

Second, he had Luke the blessed physician as a friend. Luke stood with Paul through several horrific trials, even in this time of imprisonment.

2 Timothy 4:11  "Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry."

What a comfort to have a friend stand with you in the times of trial! Imagine Napoleon, alone, imprisoned, with none to help him bear the burden. Paul, on the other hand, had Luke with him. A friend to point him to the Cross when the flesh was weak. A friend to remind him that Jesus stands at his right hand, ever ready to help him through the darkest hours. Can you imagine facing the lions of Rome, or the executioner's knife friendless?

Third, Paul had the young Lycaonian Timothy for a friend. Paul called Timothy his "son in the faith". When Paul was stoned by a mob in Asia Minor it was Timothy, when the night fell, who went outside the city and searched among the rubble and found Paul. It was Timothy who cradled that beaten body, who wiped the blood stains from his face, who gently carried Paul home to his Godly grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice for care.

Soldiers often fall in battle. All around us, a great angelic conflict is in progress, as Satan and the Church of Christ battle for the souls of mankind. Often, in the midst of battle, it seems that Satan has won. Paul, beaten nearly to death, perhaps was ready to throw in the towel. But when soldiers fall, God honors those friends who go out into the battlefield, pick them up, wipe the blood from their faces and renew their strength. Paul had such a friend in Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:13 "The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments."

Of all things that Paul, imprisoned and suffering, could ask Timothy to bring, he only asked that he bring three things: his "cloke", his "books", and Timothy himself. The books were, I believe, Paul's writings, the Scriptures, that he had left behind for the sake of his journey. Paul, just like any good Christian, wanted the Scriptures that were available to him near him in his hour of need.

Paul wanted his "cloke" for winter was approaching in more ways that one. Paul was entering the winter of his life, and knew that the time was short before he would be poured out like a drink offering before God. God gives each one of us a set time of life, a time to live and be productive for Him. In many ways Paul was fortunate because he knew his time of departure was coming, and most of us have no knowledge of when we will go to be with the Lord. Also, winter was coming to Rome. He wanted the warmth and comfort that this robe, his only robe, could bring him.

I remember being separated from my family when I spent a tour in Korea, and remember how the smallest comfort from home became great in that lonely time. I remember the pillow my wife made for me, that I clutched in the dark lonely hours of the night. Two things comforted me that endless year, my Bible and my pillow. Paul longed for the same things. The Bible, those blessed familiar words that the Lord spoke, and that cloak, stained wet with the brine of the Mediterranean, white with the snows of Galatia, yellow with the dust of the Egnatian Way, and red with the blood he shed while beaten in Asia Minor. Paul wants his robe, and wants it before winter comes.

2 Timothy 4:21  "Do thy diligence to come before winter...."

Why did Timothy have to come "before winter"? Because when winter sets in the Mediterranean becomes dark and dangerous, a time when ships are easily destroyed. Paul had a premonition that he wasn't going to last out the winter, and knew that "the time of my departure is at hand". If Timothy waited until winter, then he'd have to wait until spring when the ships were again allowed to travel. Before winter or never!

Each season is remarkable in it's own way. The spring with its new growth, the greenery springing up all around to remind us that God is at work renewing life. The summer, particularly hot in south Georgia. The fall, as the leaves of the trees turn color, and remind us that winter is just around the bend. The winter, oh, the winter! When we were stationed up north we saw beautiful winters with clear, cold nights. There is nothing more beautiful that looking at freshly fallen snow in the moonlight. Every autumn reminds me that winter's coming. Every season, so brief as I get older, reminds me that time is precious.

I can imagine two scenes in my mind, one that I hope is true and the other that I hope is not. When Timothy received this letter from Paul, I imagine him immediately starting out on his journey. I imagine him quickly gathering his cloak and books, and setting sail to be with his friend. I imagine Timothy getting to Paul on time, sitting with him in prison, reading to him from the Scriptures, and walking with him to the place of execution near the Pyramid of Cestius. I imagine Timothy watching his old friend as he died, and seeing him enter into the Kingdom, a crown of Glory his due. A sad time, but a time of rejoicing as well.

The other scene I see is Timothy procrastinating, that tool that Satan uses so effectively in our lives. Timothy waits until winter to go, but the ships are not sailing. So Timothy has to wait until April. All through that winter Timothy anxiously awaits, reproaching himself that he did not go when he could. When he finally gets to Rome in the springtime, Paul is no where to be found. Timothy asks Mary where he can find Paul, only to be told, "He was beheaded last December. Every time the jailer put the key in the cell, Paul thought it was you coming. His last words were, 'Give my love to Timothy when he comes'". If such a thing happened, how Timothy must have felt!

Before winter or never! You have a choice this day to reach out and form friendships with those around you. You have a choice to love them, and be loved. To help one another grow. To tell others about Jesus. To encourage your loved ones to faithfulness in Christ, to encourage them to accept Christ as Savior. Cherish those you have closest to you, and draw others into your confidence and love.

The devil and his angels want you to put off what you should do today until tomorrow, until winter sets in. We're all busy, living busy lives. Yet to wait until winter?

Jesus asked his disciples to wait and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His friends to help Him through a difficult time. Jesus, praying and suffering as no man has ever suffered, went back to find the encouragement of His disciples - yet they were asleep. He woke them the first time, but after that He let them sleep. Jesus had to bear this burden alone. James would later be the first Apostle to shed his blood to death for Christ, and John would be imprisoned on Patmos for his faith. Peter would be crucified for the sake of Christ. But never again would those three sleeping disciples get the chance to watch with Jesus in His hour of Agony. The friend you fail today, you may never see again tomorrow. You may never have another chance to encourage him, to show an act of kindness. The empty chair, the unlifted book, these things will bring you a reproach you can hardly endure if you procrastinate. "Sleep on now, take your rest!"

2 Timothy 4:21  "Do thy diligence to come before winter...."

More tender than any voice is the Voice of our Lord Jesus, sweetly calling men to Him.

The Holy Spirit invites men to come to Christ, but never "tomorrow", always "Today". If you can find me one place in Scripture where the Holy Spirit says, "Believe in Christ tomorrow" or "Repent and be saved tomorrow" then I would resign this pulpit immediately. The Spirit always says,

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. [2]  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"

The reason for this urgency is twofold. First, life is a fragile thing, uncertain at its best. An old teacher told his people, "Repent the day you are going to die". His people responded, "We do not know when we are going to die", so he said, "Then repent today!" "Come before winter"!

Second, Jesus always calls today for tomorrow the disposition of your heart may change. Satan wants you to wait. If you wait, he will show you a thousand reasons for not repenting. Your heart, like the soil, is ready to receive the seed of God's Word today. A week from now, a month or a year from now your heart may be hardened by winter, unplowable, unmovable. If you feel the Spirit calling you, do not let one thing stop you from coming. Do not let fear or embarrassment stop you, for how embarrassed will you be if you die in winter and lift up your eyes in hell? If this old Church building were alive, how many stories could it tell! It could tell stories of men who gripped the pew rather than walk forward to Christ, or women who forsook the choirs of Heaven for the screams of Hell.

Come to Him Who will be a friend to you in the spring, the summer, the fall, and who will stand beside you in winter. Come while there is time, "come before winter".
 

In a field covered with fresh fallen snow a father and son were walking. The father was walking forward, with each step sinking up to his calves in the snow. The son, following behind, was stepping in his father's footprints. You see, father had paved the way.  When you look at that field you only see one set of footprints, though two passed. In the same way, we must accept Jesus today, then devote our lives to walking in His footsteps. Only then will the way be blessed.