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Prepared To Die (2 Timothy 4:6)
I. Prepared To Give Our Life As An Offering
II. Prepared To Depart Because We Know Where We Are Heading
III. Prepared To Die Anytime
But this morning as we consider 2 Timothy 4:6, which is actually part of the passage from verses 6-8, is how we ought to finish well. It's what we have in verse 6. Prepared to die. So, are you prepared to die?
Now, Apostle Paul, we know that he wrote from his Roman imprisonment, recalling his life and ministry. That the Christian life is not merely about starting well, but also to finish well. It is not only to begin the Christian journey of faith, not just the journey of faith itself, but also how we end our Christian life on earth, now, as we are called home to be with the Lord one day.
And so, as Apostle Paul he wrote and reflects on his life and ministry, his words were not filled with fear, not with regret, but filled with confidence and joy in the Lord. So, Apostle Paul even from verse six encourage our hearts that we are to finish our Christian journey of life, but, in a manner that we are prepared to die.
Finishing well means to be prepared when the end comes because we know death may come to us anytime. It may come to us today, tomorrow, next year, or even next month, next week, anytime. Well, death is no respecter of persons. But, when it comes, are we prepared? So, finishing well means exactly that we must be prepared when it comes.
And one of the greatest fears among men is the fear of death. Well, that's why many avoid talking about it and even to think about it. And so, because they want to avoid death, they refuse to accept the reality of death.
I remember ministering to a man in a hospital. He's an unbeliever. So, I was requested to visit him and share the gospel with him. But, before I even open my mouth, well, he was sharing with me of how his life is so wonderful. How can he contract a disease like cancer when his life is so smooth sailing? He has done his part as a good husband, a good father, providing for all their needs. He never drinks, he never smokes. And every year he will bring his family for holiday without fail.
So he's a family man, devoted, very sincere. And so when he got cancer, he was full of bitterness. ‘No, if there is such a God, how can God do this to me?’ Well, I look at him. He is not prepared to die. He is all prepared to live.
Well, he is preparing, you know, how to retire in a very comfortable way. Well, because he has done his part to bring up his children, how he has seen them through even until the university. So he's preparing to retire with his wife. But now this cancer will cut short everything that he had planned. He is not prepared to die.
So as I shared the gospel with him, he refused to believe. Because he is not prepared at all that God would do this to to him. So what a great difference, isn't it? To a unbeliever and to a believer, it's not a small difference. It's a world of difference.
A Christian must be prepared to die. Well, we are going to learn from Apostle Paul. Can you ignore that completely? You can't. Because the Bible teaches that death is certain. You can't escape.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27, it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. And in the responsive reading, 2 Timothy 4:1, Apostle Paul says, "I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." So, each time we are reminded that the Lord is coming.
We are reminded time and time again. We are living in the last of the last days. You know, the Lord is coming very soon. Are we prepared to go and meet him? Are we prepared to die and meet him now?
Well, that's the question in the name Until when Paul wrote his final letter, knowing that his execution is near, the Emperor Nero will soon order for his death, Apostle Paul does not speak with fear. And so he says in verse 6, "I am now ready to be offered. And the time of my departure is at hand. I am now ready to die."
Well, a person who finishes well must learn to live in such a manner that he is ready and ever prepared to die and meet God at any moment. And so here we see three important truth about being prepared to die.
I. Prepared To Give Our Life As An Offering
First, to be prepared to die means we live a life prepared for offering to God. And so it is an offering given to God. A life that is prepared to die, we give this life to the Lord. And the word offered carry the idea of a drink offering. Our base on the Old Testament sacrifices. How the drink offering is to be poured out to the Lord in the morning and evening sacrifices. And that symbolise continual worship and devotion to the Lord.
And so similarly Apostle Paul had given his life to the Lord. He was poured out like a drink offering. And so his life was not wasted on worldly ambitions. It was dedicated to the service of God. Every ounce of his energy, his sweat and his blood was shed for the Lord. And so Paul's life was a sacrifice. Are we able to sacrifice our life for the Lord? Because if we are not prepared to sacrifice our life to him, we are not prepared to die.
In fact, he wrote in Philippians 2:17 in the same tone, in the same attitude. Philippians 2:17. He says, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy." And so sacrifice is in his mind. He gave his life for the Lord. Because the Lord is worthy for him to do this.
Now, sacrifice in our mind means losing something. Oh, it can be a thing, it can be a person, something very precious to us. That's why it's a sacrifice. But Paul did not view his life of sacrifice as a loss. Now, often time we equate sacrifice as loss. Well, we need to redefine our thinking, our definition. Because sacrifice is not a loss. From man's perspective, yes, it's a loss. From But from God's perspective, it is worship. It is devotion.
And so Paul viewed his life as an offering to God. So, that's why he's willing to suffer. He's willing to bear any shame for Jesus' sake. Think of a candle burning in the dark room. Now, we know how the candle [works]. Of course, nowadays we do not use candle. Now, we have the availability of electricity to give lights. But, we know what is the function of the candle. Now, the candle is to give light. But, only when it burns.
Now, you may be able to adore and embrace this wonderful candle. But, we refuse to light it up. Now, you just maybe you put in the in the box just to protect it, to keep it safe. But, as long as you are not using it, the candle is useless. Now, the candle has lost its function. Now, we need to put the candle into good use. And that's when you light it up. You let it burn. Now, and it melts. Now, slowly and slowly the the light will go off, isn't it?
Well, that's also our Christian life. We must be lighted up. We must burn. Just like the candle. Burning for Christ, light up for Christ. And that's the life of Apostle Paul. Well used and well spent. All for Christ.
So, what are you spending your life in? Are you chasing after Now, the dollar sign? Now, many are accumulating wealth. They're all preparing. Even at a young age, they're preparing for retirement. Now, because they know life is short. Now, they they want to enjoy life. So, they work hard for a couple of years, very hard, so that they may be able to enjoy life.
But, what about God? No, God is just by the way. No, when I have time, I look to God. Because I am all that matters. I have my family. I have my my job. I have my commitment. So, God can come not only when I need him. But, is that our attitude? If that's our attitude, we are not prepared to die. In fact, we we can also say we are not prepared to live. Because this life is given by the Lord. So, how can we not give our life to him?
When all the things that we accumulated in this world, when death comes, so all these things that we have accumulated will all have to be left behind. Yet, you may even put that, you know, beside you in the in the coffin, and then you bury it, but useless. In fact, the things that are to be used for the living, not for the dead. So, why are we holding so tight and so dear to the things of this world?
In Romans 12:1, Apostle Paul called upon us to present our body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. So, our life must be placed on God's altar. Let him use your life to be a blessing to other. To be prepared to die but it's an offering. An offering to God well-pleasing to him. And that is the first point.
II. Prepared To Depart
Now, the second point is to be prepared for departure. And that's how we prepare to die. And Apostle Paul says, "The time of my departure is at hand." And we must prepare our life for departure.
Now, the word departure carries, you know, of some beautiful illustrations. A ship leaving the harbour. A soldier breaking camp, or booking out. Or a prisoner being released, finally. Or a traveller setting out on a long journey. So, each of these images, you know, teaches us something about how we ought to face death. t is a departure. It is not the end. It is a departure.
Well, in Philippians 1:23, Apostle Paul said similarly, "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." To depart does not mean cease to exist. To depart means to go to be with Christ in his holy presence.
So, imagine a ship leaving the harbour from the perspective of those standing on the shore, well, they will see the ship leaving, departing. And then will soon disappear from his horizon. But for those on the ship—yes, they are departing from where they have left, but they have just begun the journey. A new journey. And that's life.
So, when we are prepared to die, we entered into a new dimension of a new life, into eternity. Well, can this consume our thought, our perspective of living on this earth?
Now, Apostle Paul could speak so calmly, so confidently about his departure. Well, it's because he knows where he will arrive on the other side. Well, the Lord Jesus has already given us the promise. He says in John 14:2–3, "In my Father's house are many mansions." And he says, "I go to prepare a place for you." And though there there awaits a place for us.
So, when we are prepared to die, when we depart from this life, we know where we are going. And the one who was crucified beside the Lord on the cross was also given the same promise. And how Jesus assured him, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." He knows where he is going.
And the Lord wants us to know where we are going. Well, unless you are not sure. And many are not sure. They can only hope. They can only pray that they will enter into heaven one day. But the Bible has already given us the promise. We can be sure about it.
But when we are sure, we are prepared to die. So, are we prepared to die? Are we prepared to depart? Because we know where we are going. We know the destination. It is not somewhere out there we don't know where. We know where. It's where God is.
Yeah, all of us want to go to heaven. You ask anyone in the street, "Where do you want to go? Heaven or hell?" I think we can rest assured that 100% of the people will say they want to go to heaven. But they are not sure. But we can be sure. Because the Lord Jesus is there right now preparing a place for us.
When I minister to elderlies, well, a lot of time they are sick. And some of them have gone home to be with the Lord. But before they go, they have this peace in the heart. Why? Because they know where they are going.
It's very different from remember the man and when I share with you in the beginning. Because this man is the unbeliever. He doesn't know where he's going. He is not prepared to die. He's not prepared to depart in this life.
But all those who are in the law, they have this assurance. So when they pass away, you have no doubt the sickness may torture them. You know, they suffer in great pain. But they have this inner joy. This inner joy is not I planted. But they receive it from God's word, God's promise.
And so they know that when they depart, they know where they will end up. And that's a great assurance. And we don't take this assurance lightly. Because what are you going to say to a man that is dying on his death bed?
Oh, you have a great bank account. You know, all the money in there are still intact. It's no use to the dying man. Oh, we have a great doctor already to treat you. Ready to resuscitate you, you know, if you were to stop breathing. It doesn't comfort him at all.
But it comforts him when he knows even when he dies now, he knows where he is going. So be prepared to die is to give ourselves as an offering to God. To be prepared to die is to be prepared for departure. Because we know the destination.
III. Prepared To Die Anytime
And finally, you know, to be prepared to die is to be ready anytime. Because Apostle Paul says, "The time of my departure is at hand." Well, at hand means near. It's approaching.
Many people think of finishing well. Well, I must have a nice retirement plan. Then I will finish well. Making sure that my family is all well provided. My children have their own family. Then my wife and I can enjoy, you know, the life living day by day. And then after that we depart.
Well, that's a very beautiful way of putting it. You know, we maybe before we depart, we can do what we want. Well, those times that we are not able to do because we are busy at work.
But a life prepared not to die. Well, they want to finish well based upon their perspective. Well, everything is well. Then I can go peacefully.
But you know how Paul depart? Well, he was executed. And in his mind, does he know how he's going to depart? He knows. Well, because as a Roman citizen, the execution will be beheading.
Well, to have a head cut off, it's no joke. Have you cut off a head before? I mean, of course not a human head. Maybe the head of a chicken or the head of a pig or some animals.
I have an opportunity to watch. I don't dare to cut off a head. But in Thailand in Kenya some years ago, all the pastors there are all all they they are all hands-on. They kill the cow, they kill the chicken. It's the live one. All with their hands.
All the pastors in Australia, in Singapore are all quite privileged. We don't have to kill these animals for food. But for churches in Kenya, even in Thailand, all they have to go and catch the chicken and then cut off the head. And drain the blood and all this.
I told there was this pastor in Kenya. He had only chicken left. So when I was there, he killed it for me. So that I can eat the chicken. But I saw the whole process how he slaughtered the chicken.
But because the knife is not sharp. I don't know when he cut off the head. And then the chicken was struggling. And then it was not cut properly. The blood, you know, came out. But the chicken is still alive. But the chicken managed to run. Run, run with the broken head or the cut-off head. And not cut off completely, so the head was still dangling. Until it dropped dead.
But that was be picture, you know, the head being cut off. And that was in the mind of Apostle Paul when he says, well, I'm ready to be offered. Well, my departure is at hand. My head is going to be cut off soon. Can you imagine that?
Well, I cannot imagine that. Maybe I'll be trembling. Well, I'm trembling now here because I'm I feel very cold. Well, can you imagine if you are to have your head cut off and your life is just to end like this? How can this be finishing well?
Well, from man's perspective, well, better give up the faith. Well, better deny Christ and save your life. But no. Apostle Paul was filled with peace. There's a calmness in his soul. Because because it is all well with his soul to give his life as an offering to the Lord. And he knows where he's going. And he knows he's going to depart very soon. And so a life must be prepared to die anytime.
In James 4:14 says, “What is your life? It is even a vapour.” Well, a vapour is something that we breathe out and it's no more. You cannot catch your breath back. It vanishes. That's our life.
Well, many assume that, "Oh, I have many years ahead of me. I've just started a new job. Well, I'm sure I will have a nice retirement. Oh, see many years ahead." And none of them know when that final day will be because it could be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be anytime.
Well, even those who are sick, well, when they see the doctor and if they get terminal illness, the doctor will usually give a estimate of duration of time. But they can never be sure.
Well, I was a member who was given 6 months to live because he got lung cancer. But then he lived on another 2 years. So, the doctor can never be very sure, ‘Oh, this day you will die. You have only this much to live.’ No one can be sure.
But who can be sure? God is sure. Because he control. And so, we leave it to him because his timing is the best. Well, when the time is up according to his will, we go. So, what we need is to be prepared to go. Be prepared to die anytime. Because only God can control our life and our death.
Have you ever encountered any drastic weather change? No, we were flying from Singapore to Australia in the air for 7 hours. And we were very comfortable. No, the plane is as if never take off. No, very stable, very still. But then all of a sudden, all the captain called us to belt up because there is a storm. Suddenly. And first we feel the turbulence. It can come suddenly.
So, death can also come suddenly. Maybe because of stroke, because of heart attack, because of accident. But a believer who trust in the Lord, who have given his life as an offering to the Lord, he knows his destination when he depart. He is ready anytime.
And so, the perspective of a believer at death is different from an unbeliever at death. It's a whole world of difference.
Well, in history records, two very different deathbed experiences. This man called Voltaire, I'm not sure whether I pronounce correctly, the famous French activist, also an atheist, who attacked Christianity, reportedly cried out in terror near the end of his life. But before he passed, one appealed to him to denounce Satan because he had been a believer of Satan.
And what was his reply? And he said, "Now is not the time to make new enemies." And that was his reply. His heart is hardened against God all the way to the end. All the way to death.
In fact, it was also recorded how he died miserably like a dog. Although that is this man, a French activist.
But then in contrast to this man called D.L. Moody, maybe some of you know him, the American evangelist. He said this near his death. He said, "Earth is receding." Well, that means there's going to be no more. "And heaven is opening." And he passed away peacefully. Well, as if he is just falling asleep.
So, what was the difference? Well, the difference was very simple. The man who had rejected Christ. Well, that's how he depart. That's how he died. But then the other is a believer. How he lived his life for for Christ. And how he depart. And how he died.
So, how are we going How are How are you going to die? Which one will you want to be? I think we can choose, isn't it? Because all we need to do is to be prepared anytime. And we make sure that we believe in the right thing.
Who can give me the assurance to go to heaven? Who can assure me that my salvation is not based on what I do? Because I'm limited. How can I trust myself to enter into heaven? Into this place which is a wonderful place. You know, the children sing, "Heaven is a wonderful place." You know, a place that is without sin. A place that is without death, no pain.
So, if I go to craft, you know, my own way thinking that I can go to this place. How can I be worthy enough? You know, because I can never be good enough. You know, what is the mark to enter heaven? You know, it's not our best, you know. Because our best may be just a passing mark. The passing mark is 100%. Can anyone fulfil 100%? None. You know, only the Lord Jesus.
Until when Apostle Paul wrote these words, death was staring at him. But he had no fear. He has peace. Because his life had been offered to God. He knows where he is going. Even as he departure is at hand. He is ready to go anytime. He is not afraid at all.
So, all of us is moving towards the same destination. The end of our earthly life. But the question is, where will you be? For the destination of one who is unsaved, well, there will be judgment. There will be consequences. The lake of fire is awaiting him. But for one who is born again, the one who had given his life as an offering to the Lord, he had great hope.
And this life, though it may be short, he want to live his life to the fullest. You know, as if today is the last day. Well, he will not procrastinate. He will want to give his life to serve the Lord. Now, serving the Lord doesn't mean, you know, within the four walls of the church or only on Sunday. Serving God is 24 hours, you know, 7 days a week. All the days of our life until the Lord calls us home.
You know, is our life a service to him? At your workplace, do people know that you are Christian? Do people see that you are different from them? You know, you all respond to crisis. You all respond to the many things in life as one who is saved. Will they see that you are you they because they will not read the Bible? Maybe some do. But they're going to see Christ in you. And that is probably their only opportunity.
So, if you were to say, "Well, let me just be normal. I don't rock the boat. I let me just do my work. I be good to everyone. I don't have to share Christ." Well, at the end of the day, what is your witness at work? Well, like the candle, you're not shining. Because it is not lit up. It has been put in the drawer, but not used. So, what's the use?
So, let the candle, you know, be burned and lit up for Christ's sake. I told that when you share Christ, that when you conform more and more to the image of Christ by your words, by your action, by your response to the many things in life, others able to see Christ in you. And then they will be blessed. They may not come to believe, but they will see this is the Christian faith. This is the God whom you believe. That is a testimony. I only Jesus say.
So, Paul was prepared because his life has been lived for Christ. He had poured himself like and like a drink offering. And that to him is a departure into the eternal presence of the Lord. I thought he lived every day with eternity in view. And that's what we ought to do the same. He need to be prepared to die all the time.
So, we are no longer superstitious, it is not a bad thing to die. You know, if you are prepared to die, you are prepared to live to the fullest. You know, every second count. That's how you're going to live.
So, may we be able to say with Apostle Paul, "I'm now ready. I'm now ready. I'm prepared to be offered. I'm prepared to depart. I'm prepared anytime." So, are we prepared to die?
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank thee for thy word that reminded us to prepare to die is to prepare to give our life as an offering unto thee. To prepare to die is to depart from this earthly place and to know for sure where we are going to be with the Lord forever and ever in a wonderful place called heaven. And to be prepared to die is to be prepared anytime.
Oh Lord, help us. Help our unbelief. Help our weak faith. How we have not prepared ourselves to die and to depart and to give this life as an offering to thee. Oh Lord, help us.
Help us to remember thy word to keep in our heart that we might not sin against thee. That we may go to be thy witness to the people around us who are still outside thy kingdom. That they may be able to see the light of the gospel, the Christ of our life. By the word we say and by the life we live.
Help us, oh God, that we may be found faithful until the day we meet our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, face to face. Help us to finish well. We commit all this and unto thy loving hand.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.