MY FRIENDS, DO YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED?

MY FRIENDS, DO YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED?

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Tim. 1:12 (NKJV)

Isn’t it something about Paul’s writing when we read it, it just takes us to another level on this journey Christ has placed us on Paul is pretty sure his day’s on this earth are numbered, Nero was so possessed by the god of this world he probably had the guillotine right out side the window of his jail cell if he had a window.

Nero’s words probably went something like this, Just the thought of him knowing he will die, but not knowing when he will die will either drive him mad or it will inspire him to recant this notion of a son of God who walked among us.

My friends, I need you to focus today on what Paul is saying while he is in jail with Satan trying to get him to waver. “for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”

I pray daily for such a commitment of faith, what can man do to the body Ms.White tells us “Soon the night of trial and suffering would end, and then would dawn the glad morning of peace and perfect day.

The apostle was looking into the great beyond, not with uncertainty or dread, but with joyous hope and longing expectation. As he stands at the place of martyrdom he sees not the sword of the executioner or the earth so soon to receive his blood; he looks up through the calm blue heaven of that summer day to the throne of the Eternal.” (Acts of the Apostles pp 511-512)

Paul also tells us in 2 Cor 11:16-33 (NKJV) “…….I have worked hard, been in prison frequently, been flogged severely, exposed to death. Five times I received forty lashes minus one. Three times beaten with rods, once pelted with stones.

Shipwrecked three times……. I know hunger and thirst, I have been cold and naked…“ After going through all of that  he is still able to tell Timothy “I know whom I have believed” He has no doubt he no longer looks in the mirror and sees himself, but he looks and he sees the “one whom [he] have believed”

In addition, nothing can make him waver oh the “passion of Christ” and oh the passion of one who Christ created in His image like you and I “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Christ has given him a mandate and all he wants to do is finish it, consistent with this, this same mandate that Paul has received from God is the very same mandate that God has given to us “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:” Matt 28:19 (ASV)

My friends Paul’s whole life since he left that Damascus road was to stay focused on the mission and God”s will for him and through his faith he endured. That is how he was able to say “I know whom I have believed” what happen on that road to Damascus we should all find out.

Well what ever it was God has also a plan for His faithful Children starting with in the beginning. His plan for our life should always give us a reason to praise His name. The great controversy between good and evil is now going on for our Salvation or destruction.

But if our desire is Salvation, there will be times the high walls of our life will seem impossible to get over to get to the other side. But in the midst of our trials we should say “praise God from whom all blessings flow” For our life has already been planed.

And He “will keep our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Ps. 121:8 (NKJV) but like Paul we have to stay focused and endure as we tell our self  we “know whom we have believed”