The Charge to a Soldier of Christ:
2 Timothy 4:1-5 – “1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:” (When Christ appears, He will usher in the judgment and His faithful will be gathered into His kingdom.)
“2. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Always be ready to preach God’s Word, whether the time is advantageous to preaching the gospel or not. This is the charge to a Soldier of Christ!
“3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4. and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Because so many have become tolerant of sin and more into self-gratification, they have a strong desire to turn to many different teachers of novelty and lies. They are no longer content to hear the sound teachings of the Bible. Look around at all the many different sects of churches today that do not preach the gospel according to God’s Word, in fear of losing members. God’s Word convicts hearts. Too many so-called Christians do not want to be convicted to repentance, they want to feel good and stay in their sin. They are not Good Soldiers of Christ. How can one choose to live in sin and share the gospel? That is hypocritical!
The Comfort of a Soldier of Christ
A Good Finish to Life:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 – “6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” As a Good soldier of Christ, Paul kept the faith (the recognized body of Christian doctrine, Jude 3). He kept the faith in two senses: he was obedient to it, and he passed it on as he received it. He has the comfort of knowing he has a home in Heaven forever. There will be no sickness, nor sadness, nor evil of any kind.
The Comfort of a Good Future After Life:
2 Timothy 4:8 – “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Wow, even though Christ died because of our sin, we have the promise of a reward of a royal crown of righteousness simply for loving the coming of Christ. I so look forward to laying that crown, as well as all other rewards I may receive when I get to Heaven, at the feet of Jesus. After all, it was He who took my filthy sin, He being sinless, so that I may live in Paradise with Him for eternity. What a comfort!
