I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to live in a different time in history. A think maybe a time when the world wasn’t so cynical, when tolerance wasn’t a religion, when success meant more than money and power, and when more people genuinely looked out for each other. But different times only would have come with a different set of challenges for Christians in the world.
Paul and Timothy had their own set of challenges for sure.
But instead of focusing on another time in history or some kind of easy way out, Paul focused on their assignment in the present.
They were men on a mission, and it was time to get serious.
1 Timothy 6:19-21 New International Version (NIV)
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Guard what has been entrusted to your care
When I read “ guard what has been entrusted to your care ,” I see a soldier or police officer who has just been given the order to guard a building or a person and is guarding it with his life as he walks with purpose watching and listening for any movement. Hopefully he is alone, but he is ever aware that there is someone who want to stop him from guarding this precious thing. Someone will get in his path, others will try to knock him down, and others will may try to sneak past. Each one wants to stop him from doing his job, guarding. That’s a picture of what our spiritual lives can feel like some days. But despite who or what comes against us, we hold on to our faith, we keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and we remember how precious the gospel is that we guard.
While studying 1 Timothy 6 this morning, I put the verses in bible gateway. I have been working on writing our vacation Bible school, and the version was set to International Children’s Bible. I LOVE the directness of Paul’s words to Timothy throughout this chapter in this translation:
1 Timothy 6:19-21 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
19 By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves in heaven. That treasure will be a strong foundation. Their future life can be built on that treasure. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.
20 Timothy, God has trusted you with many things. Keep those things safe. Stay away from people who say foolish things that are not from God. Stay away from those who argue against the truth. They use something they call “knowledge,” but it is really not knowledge. 21 They say that they have that “knowledge,” but they have left the true faith.
God’s grace be with you.
And so I have to ask.
Are you actively taking hold – seriously guarding with everything you’ve got – the life that is true life?
Or are you living on the defense, surrounded on all sides, believing the lies, and feeling like you might as well give up as the weight of the world closes in on you?
Get back in the game by drinking deeply of the gospel.
The gospel is where hope resides. It’s where our minds are guarded against the battles that rage all around us. The gospel lifts us out of the muck, sets us on course, and plants us firmly on solid ground. It gives us strength to get back up with more determination than ever because we are convinced that nothing can get in the way of sure victory.
If you guard the gospel, the world can’t take your joy.
If you guard the gospel, the world can’t sway your mind.
If you guard the gospel, the world can’t steal your focus.
If you guard the gospel, you can’t help but give it away…