1999 Advent Week 2 - Timothy — John Piper

Timothy's Two Calls of Love

Timothy part two. At 34 some saw him old some young but only two were bold enough to call him little child. His mother and the man reviled through all the world as foolish Paul and by some strange design a call was sent from both unknown to each by letter if perhaps to reach and summon Timothy to leave his church in Ephesus and cleave to her in Lystra him in Rome to help them as they say get home.

Choosing Between Ephesus and Rome

In Rome Paul lay in jail to wait the whim of Nero's fear and hate and wrote dear child almost bereft I lie for Luke alone is left. In Lystra Eunice lay diseased and wrote dear child I would be pleased if you would come and help me die.

And now how should a son reply. Two letters here two loves and one must wait and neither can and none is lesser than its ardent twin or likely in a war to win one love will lure him west one east yet neither summons most or least.

How then should such a love decide when one's child's heart cannot divide. He made his choice on this if I in God's goodwill before they die could see them both then first I should attend whom I'm more likely would survive and then give my goodbye to him with whom I well may die.

And thus he made his journey and and watched with love as Eunice ceased to breathe and felt his father's touching blessing on his head with such a power after twenty years to make and double all his tears.

And then he sailed for Rome before he left he took his father's hand and swore if I survive my time in Rome then I will come and take you home with me to Ephesus and care for you and grandma Lois there.

Timothy's Resolve to Finish the Race

But if I don't then father hear this word from what Paul wrote to cheer my soul if he should die. The fight of faith I have fought long with might but not my own. The bloody race is all but done. I set my face like Flint to finish well.

And grace has given strength to keep the pace the precious faith my soul has kept. And now with all enticements swept away by prison age and hope I lean with longing toward the rope scaffold fire or sword where I will shortly meet the Lord.

Goodbye. I love you father much today and thank you for your touch. The journey on the sea to Rome was rough and winter waves with foam rolled early round the G and Isles and frigid wind stole sailors smiles and made them tell dark jokes.

What's worse they asked the passengers in verse then winter on the sea but none could answer. Tell us have your fun. And so the mates with flashing teeth replied why winter underneath. Then Timothy with boldness said yes good mates.

But there's a dread much worse than both. Come try your skill to solve my riddle. Now what still is worse than winter on the sea or underneath. Come answer me. We can't imagine anything they said. So tell us what's the sting that's worse than winter on the sea or underneath.

Then Timothy replied to freeze above the swell or drown. It's worse to wake in hell. Nobody left. But in the days to come the sailors found their ways to ask him when the waves were high if he knew how to safely die and he would take his precious scroll that Paul had sent to him.

Unroll the portion. Then the sailors iced and cold declared the warmth of Christ. At last in Rome a winter's night so cold and clear and moonlit bright that one could see his comrades breath or not and mark the signs of death found Timothy and Luke outside the city wall where they had cried till there were no more tears to cry.

Paul's Death and Timothy's Guilt

Too late too late to say goodbye Paul a between them dead beside the Osten way where Nero's pride was fed again with Christian blood. He stared down at the Red Street mud and murmured simple phrases from the letter in his coat.

Please come before the winter sun. Please come before the winter sun to numb to feel the bite of night. All he could feel this too late to be here when he needed me. Too late too late my son. Please bring the great cloak when you come.

I'll need it in the winter. There he lays so thin blood soaked with just a shirt and son. Please don't forget the books. It's done my father. I did not forget. I have the parchments to yet too late too late father did you need them at the end.

Forbid Oh God that I withheld the food he needed just before they hewed him down. Oh God. No books no cloak no friends but one. And thus he broke off murmuring his satchels lay around him now in disarray all full of things to make Paul strong and able to endure the long hard winter of a Roman jail.

Luke’s Counsel on Providence and God’s Word

Luke watch the force of guilt assailed the battered faith of Timothy then said now listen well to me young man. The greatness of our friend and father did not simply end as if a sword could silence what he preached and wrote.

What you have got there in your letter did not fall nor ever will. The voice of Paul was not the mutterings of man and will not perish in the span of one short life. It was the voice of God. Now you must make your choice.

Go. Follow now the feelings of your guilt and come to not or love your father better and believe. Let not the face of guilt deceive. You did not err in caring for your mother as you did. One door of sacrifice is all that we can enter at a time.

But be assured this is not so with God. While we in single pathways plod God treads 10 ,000 ways and takes all our unplanned delays and makes divine appointments of them all. And so it was with you and Paul.

He paused and riveted his eyes on Timothy and said. One dies and so's the seed. Another lives and bears the fruit God takes and gives. He was not late in Rome today nor was your eastern trip. Delay now to know his plan and way.

Keep vigil till the morning and pray. When Luke awoke the sunlight broke through crimson clouds and smoke from all the fires of Rome spread haze above the city like the blaze of some great furnace of a king in Babylon.

Timothy's Call to Preach in Rome

You know we'd sing if Paul were here he said. He had a song for every plight both bad and good. Luke watched as Timothy methodically arranged three large satchels at his side. Then took from one a precious well-worn book and from another Paul's great cloak.

He stared a long time at smoke above the city wall. Then stood he lifted up the cloak and hood. Look down at the Apostle. Paul then put it on. Is that your call. Luke asked what are you going to do. I'm going to preach in Rome.

And you my friend what of your night of prayer. I'll bury Paul and join you there. And then Luke said you're very young to die. I think Paul called it done what we who know the Lord will lose when we lose all but Christ.

Courage to Lose Everything but Christ

Strong views and I doubt much they were designed for older men as if we find that you should trade their God for earth and finding it a greater worth. More souls are lost by fearing death I think than risking life.

His breath more precious than the soul. He smiled at Luke and turned to go a wild and solid hope filled all his frame and in his hand a book. Now let the fire of candle to ignite the wild and solid view that God our God is never late and let it burn until the weight of this all conquering truth consumes our fear.

And even by the tombs of fallen martyrs makes us dare to ask whose mantle will we wear.