Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  2 Timothy 4:8

Things were looking hopelessly bleak.  When, for a season, Paul was released from Roman imprisonment he revisited some of the churches in Turkey that he had a hand in establishing, no doubt expecting the honor he deserved.  Not so. Many rebuffed him. At least that is how he felt because he wrote about it in this letter to Timothy.  Many received Paul with open arms but those who rejected him, it appears, filled Paul’s memories.

When writing this letter one can feel the pathos of his soul.  Once faithful followers of the Lamb were turning back and others left the simple way of the Gospel, now twisting it to their own purposes. Paul does mention a few persons in this letter to Timothy who held to the fundamental faith but he was obviously profoundly troubled by those who found the simple Gospel too shallow or too difficult and who were seeking a more congenial way to follow Christ.  We have little detail but that appears to me to be what is happening.

This is all against the fact that Paul was doing something that riled the Jews – inviting Gentiles to be saved by the atoning merits of Jesus and joining as equal members in the fellowships of believers all over the Roman world.  And now, Nero implicated the Christians in the great fire that destroyed much of Rome.

The Jews turned against him even though he was a Jew, the Romans imprisoned him as an enemy of Rome even though he was a Roman citizen!  Poor Paul, now chained to a Roman jailer and facing a mock trial and certain death did what seems preposterous, he was encouraging Timothy to suffer with him!  What got into this man, Paul?  Jesus got into him, that is what.  And Jesus is assuring him that “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”  That includes Timothy.

When disappointment comes, the door of heaven opens where the Judge of all is beckoning with arms wide open.  Into those arms Paul is falling.  Home at last. His crown of righteousness awaits him, perfectly fitted!  Thank you, Paul, for showing all of us disciples of the Lamb the glory of life with Him, forever and ever.