Man may abandon us, but the Master will abide with us! We are never alone. The Lord has promised to never forsake us, (cf. Ps. 94:14; Heb. 13:5). Paul was forsaken by all his friends, (2 Tim. 4:16-18). “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” Prov. 18:24). That Faithful Friend is Jesus! Let us examine 2 Timothy 4:16-18 further.
There is the promise of HIS PRESENCE, “But the Lord stood with me…”. It is important to note that the Lord did not merely stand near the Apostle, nor even by Paul, but “stood WITH me,” he testified. Even in the prison cell—in solitary confinement on death row—the Lord was in the midst of a dungeon’s dismal darkness to give Paul light. When taken before a human tribunal to be falsely accused and unjustly condemned by demonic hate, His Heavenly Defense Attorney stood with him to give Paul love. Remember, dear one that when you have wagging tongues testifying against you and wicked fingers pointing at you that the Lord stands with you—and that is enough!
There is then the promise of HIS POWER, “But the Lord…strengthened me…”. When we would wither and cannot weather the storm of attacks by fierce foes and sense of abandonment by false friends, a supernatural strength is imparted by our Faithful Friend. It is the power that spoke the universe into existence, with that cosmos upheld “by the word of His power,” (Heb. 1:3). The Lord hangs the stars in place—so much so that we measure the day accurately by the sun. The Lord sets the planets in their orbit—so that we determine a year by earth’s trip around the sun. Concerning His power, did we not learn this as a child in the song? It simply, yet profoundly, assures us.
Jesus loves me! This I know,For the Bible tells me so;Little ones to Him belong;They are weak, but He is strong.
No matter how overwhelming the odds against us we have Omnipotence available to us—and that is enough!
Thus we have the promise of HIS PRESERVATION, “And the Lord will preserve me…”.
In his first imprisonment, we believe that Paul was freed, “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.” He was delivered to keep telling the story. God has a work for us to do and we will not perish one minute before that allotted time and assigned task is completed. As old George Whitefield stated it, “We are immortal until our work on earth is done.” Never fear!
In his final imprisonment—and he had many, (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23)—Paul was fully freed, “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!” He was delivered to enter the glory! His death was not the end, but an entrance. His life did not conclude, but would commence on a higher plane in that heavenly place! As the executioner’s sword would fall and his head would go one way and his body another—his soul would soar through space to an infinitely better place.
However difficult the place we find ourselves in before we leave this world, the servant of God knows there is the most delightful place that has been prepared by the Master Carpenter for us, (cf. Jn. 14:1-3).
To be forever with Jesus—that is enough!
I think of the old hymn:
1 I’ve seen the lightning flashing
And heard the thunder roll,
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing,
which tried to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior,
He bid me still fight on:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
2 The world’s fierce winds are blowing–
Temptation’s sharp and keen;
I have a peace in knowing
My Savior stands between;
He stands to shield me from danger
When all my friends are gone:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
3 When in affliction’s valleyI tread the road of care,My Savior helps me carryMy cross so heavy to bear;Though all around me is darknessAnd earthly joys are flown,My Savior whispers His promise:Never to leave me alone.4 He died on Calv'ry's mountain,For me they pierced His side,For me He opened that fountain,The crimson, cleansing tide;For me He’s waiting in gloryUpon His heavenly throne:He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.Refrain:No, never alone,No, never alone;He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone:No, never alone,No, never alone:He promised never to leave me,Never to leave me alone.
That is enough—MORE THAN ENOUGH!