Faithful To The End

Faithful To The End

Dr. J. Mike Minnix

Introduction

Do you know Christians who have failed to remain faithful to God's work, God's family, and God's church? I'm not talking about people who have failed and returned to the Lord, but I'm speaking of people who simply disappeared from worship and service to Christ. I'm sure we all know people like that. Can that happen to us? Tonight I want to share with you how to remain faithful to the Lord to the very end of the way - till the Lord calls you home.

One Christian we read about in the Bible as being faithful through many hardships is Paul, who was saved on the Damascus Road. He faced many challenges but he had a commitmen that lasted to the end.

Be sure of this, it is possible for a Christian to become discouraged and defeated in his or her life for Christ. One thing that can cause this is not understanding what is necessary in order to be faithful.  In order to be steadfast in our service to the Lord and His church we need to understand some important truths. Now, let me explain this thought by asking your to take a look at Paul's statment found in 2 Timothy 4:9-18 ...

In our scripure we see three types of believers and how failing to understand them can hinder our faithful life to Christ. Paul overcame many hardships and some hardhearted people in order to finish strong for Jesus. We can do that to.

First, note that ...

I. Some  People Will Forsake You

Look at 2 Timothy 4:9‑10:

“Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica - Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”

Here we have the Demas-type Christian, if indeed he may be called a true Christian. Demas deserted Paul when Paul needed a helper in the divine work he was called to complete. Why did Demas desert Paul? Was it because of demands from his family? Was it because Demas himself was sick? No, Demas left Paul because he loved this present world more than he loved the Lord. He walked out on God's work simply because he found the world more attractive and pleasing.

There are many Christians who are lured away from faithfulness to God and to God’s people because of a love for this world. Demas had been a partner with Paul and had once been very faithful. We see this in Colossians 4:44:

“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.”

In other words, there was a time when Demas was by Paul’s side, along with Dr. Luke, and they were working together doing the hard work of carrying the gospel to the ancient world. Something in this world, and we are not given the specifics, drew Demas away from Christ and the work he had pledged to do in helping Paul accomplish a critical divine mission.

Look at what John said about this problem in 1 John 2:15:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

What is it that draws people away from the Lord? It is a lack of love for Christ. Love is the key to a full and faithful life of service to our Lord all the way to the end of the way.

In Matthew 24:12 we read that Jesus said:

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

The world “lawlessness” speaks of a departure from truth and obedience. It means that something in this world, something that is anathema to the kingdom of God, draws the believer into the world. When sin arises, love declines – or we can say that when love for the Lord declines, sin arises.

Dear Christian friend, you must not be discouraged by the Demas-type person in the church. Don’t become discouraged when you see believers fall by the wayside. Paul did not give up or quit just because someone else did. He did not become discouraged and throw in the towel simply because Demas was a deserter.

More than anything, don’t let it ever be said of you that you are a Demas-type Christian. Never let it be said that you abandoned the Lord’s people and the Lord’s work. Do not ever be judged as derelict in ydour duty to divinity. We must never forsake the one who was faithful to us on the cross at Calvary. Likewise, we must not discourage our fellow servants by departing from them in the time of their service to the Lord.

Not only will some be unfaithful, but note another type of Christian ...

II. Some People Will Be Faithful To You

Look at 2 Timothy 4:11‑13:

“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come - and the books, especially the parchments.”

God blesses us as we serve Him with Luke-type and Timothy-type servants – those who are faithful with you in the work of God. How we need fellow servants who will not quit when the going gets tough.

Thank God for the stick-to-it Christians who are dedicated through the thick and thin times in life. They are there when everything is going well, but they are also right by your side when it appears that everything nailed down is coming loose. Yes, the most faithful servants are often the minority, but they are always magnificent. They may not be many but they are much. They love you when you are unlovely and they serve even when the cost to do so is great. Such members of the body of Christ will uplift your spirit in a time of discouragement and that can make all the difference in the success of your labor for the Lord.

Paul also wrote in this passage of Tychicus, whom he had sent to Ephesus. Just think of serving Paul by traveling across dangerous territories in order to carry a message or letter of encouragement or correction to God’s people. Thank God for people like Tychicus! He did not serve in the limelight, and his name would never have appeared at all in the scripture had Paul not included it several times, along with one mention of his name by Luke in the Book of Acts. Each time you see Tychicus, he is one who is preaching the message, carrying a message, or helping out in some manner. How many servants does God have like Tychicus? Actually, there are many who serve in ways unheralded and practically unknown to the world, but God knows everything they do and their faithfulness will one day be greatly rewarded. Never become discouraged with what appears to be a small job or task in God’s work – there is no such thing as a small place in the kingdom. What seems like a lowly job in God's work is actually as big as the God who gave the job to you.

So some were faithful with Paul and faithful to God, but note also another type of person mentioned in our text today…

III. Some People Will Fight You

Look at 2 Timothy 4:14‑15:

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.”

Alexander, the metal worker (most likely from Ephesus), had somehow worked against Paul and the cause of Christ. This, too, you should expect while serving the Lord. Note how Paul handled what must have been a difficult and disappointing experience in his service for Christ. Paul did not fight back, for he knew that such behavior would only damage the cause of the Lord. Paul left room for God to carry out revenge in His own way.

Listen to what the Bible says in Romans 12:17-18 about getting even with others:

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

We are told to “give place to wrath.” We must step out of the place of revenge, and when we do God will step in that place and take care of the issue in His own way.

Some fought Paul as he served God, and you can be sure that some will do that to you as well. Don’t be surprised by this. Disappointed? Sure! But, don’t let it cause you to stop your work or cause you to seek revenge, which can sidetrack you from God’s service. No! Keep on keeping on in the work God has given you to accomplish. Don't stop to attack your enemy, but simply keep going and let God deal with the naysayers.

There is one more who is mentioned in this verse that we certainly must not omit…

IV. There Is One PERSON Who Will Never Fail You

Read 2 Timothy 4:16-18:

“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

Here we find the real secret to the happy continuance of service for our Lord. We can be faithful to Christ and to His cause, all the way to the end, if we will but pay attention to Paul’s word at this point in his letter to Timothy. Here is the Divine path to the faithful Christian life.

A. The Person of Christ (16‑17a)

We must realize the presence and person of Christ in our lives and service. He is here to strengthen us and help us in every circumstance – all the way to the end. Many may leave us or disappoint us, but Jesus will never do either. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is standing by in every circumstance. Did not David say something just like this? In Psalm 23 he reminded us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is with us. He ended that great Psalm by stating that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of my life…” Someone has rightly said that goodness follows us to help us do what is right in our service to the King. Mercy follows us to grant us forgiveness when we fail, for none of us remains totally faithful to Him. Never forget that the person of Jesus is with us all the way – so, let us go all the way in faithfulness to Him.

B. The Purpose of Christ (17b)

Paul knew his purpose and meant to fulfill it at all cost, and that is the way to victory in the Christian life. Know the will of God, forget the cost and be faithful to the end, even when others quit and make it harder for you to be faithful. You will be victorious if you will do this continually.

C. The Peace of Christ (18a)

How precious is the peace of Christ when we are serving Him. No matter what he faced, or who failed him, Paul had peace for the future, for Paul had confidence in God's love and care for him in every situation. Like Paul, we must not fret, but let God give us his peace – not the kind of peace the world is looking for, but the always present, always sufficient, and always calming peace that Jesus provides.

D. The Praise of Christ (18b)

Paul was always praising the Lord. Recall the time that Paul and Barnabas were in prision in Phillipi. At midnight, after being beaten and jailed for something they didn't do, they were praising God. This teaches us that we are to do everything with the praise and glory of Christ.

Paul longed for God to get the glory in all that was accomplished through his life. If the work we do for Christ becomes about us, we will eventually be discouraged and we'll be tempted to quit. Even if we continue to serve, we will fret and fume as we do so. Or we will simply allow the failure of others to defeat us. But, if we do all for the glory of our Lord, we can praise Him even when we don't understand why we are going through difficult times.

Conclusion

Note the "Amen" that closes our text. Yes, a sweet "amen" may be said over a faithful Christian life, one that is lived in the Person of Christ, the Purpose of Christ, the Peace of Christ, and to the Praise of Christ.

The blessed "amen" may be pronounced at the end of a life lived for Christ; a life that was not halted by the hatefulness of others; a life that was not slowed by the sloth of others; a life that was not stopped by the sin of others! Go on, child of God, faithful to the end!