The following is a sermon transcript from our Sunday Service at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Each week, we gather to worship, learn from God’s Word, and grow together. This transcript is provided as a free resource to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ. While you’re welcome to read and share this content for personal use, we kindly ask that it not be redistributed or published elsewhere without prior written consent from The Rock Church.
Introduction: Come What May
After many doctors’ visits and blood tests, the news is not good, come what may. Amid all the hate in the world, we are putting out the Israeli flags. We will show support for the Jewish people, come what may. I will speak the truth, even if I am disrespected or rejected, come what may.
Come what may describes a phrase that is an unwavering commitment to trusting in the Lord. It’s an unbending determination to accept the challenge it is to do what is right. Jesus said, even said that we should expect trouble in this world. But take heart, he has overcome.
Even in the Bible, some have said, come what may. It was Job who suffered and lost much of all that he had. His friends complaining, he said this, Job 13:13, “Let me have silence and I will speak. Let come on me what may.”
It was 2 Samuel chapter 18 when Ahimaaz, the son of a priest, insisted on delivering the bad news to King David that his son had just died. Listen to what he said. “Come what may, I will run.”
Regardless of what the future holds, we know who is sovereign. We know who holds it together. Regardless of the pain that we experience today, we know one day it will be over.
Come what may is not empty words from a place of defeat. No, it’s confidence in Christ. It says, I trust the Lord. I know that he loves me. There’s nothing that’s hidden from his sight. There’s nothing too difficult for him. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” Jesus said fear not some 44 times in the New Testament. We might want to take a clue at that, that we are perhaps people prone to fear, prone to discouragement, easily brought low.
Come what may says, I can have peace even in the hardest seasons of life. Come what may says, I am okay even when there’s always bad news coming. Come what may says, I will endure to the end because I am being held by a faithful Savior who will never let me go.
Apostle Paul’s “Come What May”
How about the Apostle Paul? What was his come what may? His come what may resulted in churches planted, leaders raised up, the church being strengthened. In fact, as Paul wrote to young Timothy, he told him this. In other words, paraphrasing, my dear son, the end of 30 years of faithful and fruitful ministry is coming to a close.
So does he then despair of life? “Oh, no, it’s over. I’m done.” Oh, no. Or otherwise, am I angry with God? “God, how dare you take away my strength and put me in this place?” No, of course not. Quite the opposite. He gives thanks to God for a race well run, for a fight well fought, and for a faith well kept.
Now, was Paul boasting in saying that? “Look at me, Lord. Oh, I have kept the right. I have done it. Look at how faithful I have been. Oh, I wish those other Christians were as faithful as me.” No. No. See, it’s knowing what Christ has done for us that helps us to realize what he’s doing through us. It’s no human effort.
Standing up here giving you a nice motivational pep talk, that’s not going to help you. That’s not going to help you endure and serve long enough all the way to your dying day. No, no. It’s only by the grace and power of the Spirit. It’s despite us that God chooses to use us.
We know that he uses the weak and lowly to bring glory to his wonderful name.
Big Idea: Christ’s Work for You Helps You Recognize His Work Through You
So that’s what I want to talk about this morning. If you’re taking note, it’s this, the big idea, as always: understanding Christ’s work for you is essential in recognizing his work through you.
And what I want to do is give you three statements, each of which include an imperative and an indicative statement. Remember that? I keep doing the grammar thing. You love it. Love it. Who loves grammar? Indicative what is true, gospel indicative; imperative what we must do. The indicative must drive the imperative. Let’s not reverse them. Law of gospel.
The three statements are:
- Accept the challenges of life because you know Christ has already fought and won.
- Embrace what will come after this life because you know what Christ has prepared for you.
- Come to the aid of others, knowing that Christ will provide comfort through you.
1. Accept the Challenges of Life (Because Christ Has Already Fought and Won)
That first one we see together is accepting the challenges of life, how hard it is. Bearing degrees of challenge, health, relationship, finance, whatever it is, but we know that Christ has already fought and won.
So let’s look at verse 6 to 7. Paul’s saying this:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Now, it’s an interesting phrase. When you look at that text, you’ll see the word “drink offering.” Whatever does Paul mean by this? It seems rather odd, but for someone who is Jewish, your mind immediately goes to the Old Testament system of sacrifices, all the way to Numbers chapter 15, verses 4 through 10.
Here are the instructions for all the sacrifices that are to be brought before the altar for the sins of the people. We must realize that all of these sacrifices and offerings point to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ once and for all.
Nonetheless, the process was in place. The priest would bring the sacrifice of the animal to the altar. It was a burnt offering, a ram or lamb. But in addition to that animal sacrifice, there was also a drink offering. It was about a half a gallon of wine that they would pour out on top of the burnt offering. And according to Numbers chapter 15, verse 7, it was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
So as Paul considers his life being poured out even unto death, it is pleasing to the Lord. He does all this, all the while looking and keeping his focus on the perfect sacrifice, on Christ alone. Better than any animal sacrifice, better than any other kind of offering or otherwise.
Since Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice, Paul counted it a joy to give of his life as a drink offering unto and for the Lord, pleasing him.
Paul Accepted the Challenges of Life
The question is: do you think Paul accepted the challenges of his life? Surely he did. He understood all the difficulties, all the sufferings as part of the plan to form Christ in him, to advance the kingdom of God.
In fact, it was what we read from Philippians that Paul counted it a privilege to share in the sufferings of Christ.
When was the last time you considered the challenges of your life as God’s plan for you?
“Well, wait a minute, pastor, you’re saying that God wants me to suffer? That doesn’t sound like a very good plan. I’m not sure I can get down with that.”
Believe me, I didn’t say it was easy, but it is indeed very necessary.
Why God Allows Temptations and Trials
Consider your life. If everything always goes well, what if God decided, in his grace, to remove all sin and temptation from your life? Right here on earth. What if he decided to do that?
“Well, you might say, well, praise God.” But you also might come to the understanding of this little thing called pride. “Look at me. I’m doing so well. I can’t believe all those other Christians just don’t get it.”
Allow me to read an excerpt from our confession. It’s chapter 5. It’s on the divine providence. In paragraph 5, it says that the perfectly wise, righteous, and gracious God often allows his children for a time to experience a variety of temptations and sinfulness of their own hearts.
Notice, God is not the author of sin. God does not cause us to sin. But he allows temptations. He allows us to see these things.
“But why, God, if you’re so good, why don’t you keep every temptation and sin far from me?”
But he doesn’t do that.
And there’s actually, we can look at a number of reasons for this. The first of which is to chastise us.
You may recall what we talked about a couple weeks ago, which is what? The word of God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
As we consider the chastisement of God, the correction of God, what is your first reaction to that? What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of God’s correction?
Well, of course, it seems like God is angry with me, wants me to feel ashamed of my sin so I easily fall victim to sin. But that’s not the case at all.
As believers in Christ, as children of God, as forgiven, we have been washed clean. But as such, we have a loving Father who wants to lovingly correct us, to realign us, to bring us back into the right kind of living.
God’s Correction Is Loving, Humbling, and Transforming
He doesn’t want to just beat us down and keep us down. “How dare you sin? I’m so surprised, dear Christian.” No, no, no, no.
You see, the Lord knows far better than we do the damage that sin brings into our lives. And he wants us to be in that abundant life. That’s not the prosperity gospel. That’s the righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. He wants to bring in that wholeness, that shalom of God that the Jew knew so well. Not broken pieces, but wholly fit together, being built up into the head who is Christ.
And so God’s correction is not just to beat us down, but it’s to humble us. He’s using even sin. Yes, I said it. He’s even using sin in our lives to remind us of the corruption that still is there.
“Maybe just me. You all got it better than I do.” No. “Thank you, brother. Thank you for agreeing.”
It’s the deceitfulness of our hearts that’s ever-present with us. And so when we fall into sin, the Lord is humbling us. Why is he humbling us? Not because he takes pleasure in knocking us down. Rather, he takes pleasure in what? In a humble and broken heart.
You know the verse, Psalm 51:17:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. Oh God, you will not despise.”
Brother Corey shared that verse yesterday. There it is again. Like Paul, we are a drink offering being poured out as a pleasing aroma to God.
A Contrite Heart Hates Sin and Runs to Christ
God loves a broken and contrite heart. He loves it when we admit how weak we are, not how strong. He loves it when we grow in our hatred of sin. That’s what a contrite heart is. It’s a heart that says, “Man, I hate it. I hate this sin. I hate how it messes me up—my relationships and my attitude and my perspective, how sin distorts me as God’s image bearer. I really hate it when I pursue the pleasures of this world rather than the pleasures of Christ.”
But more than correcting us, more than reminding us of our weakness, more than humbling us, God also wants to grow us into a constant and closer dependence on him to sustain us.
Growing in spiritual maturity is not saying, “Lord, I got this. Man, I really, I think I’m doing pretty well. I think you can take off the training wheels. I’m doing all right.”
No. It’s the opposite. It says, “Lord, put more training wheels on, more protective gear. I need a helmet. I need my shoulder pads. Let me do this all with you, Lord. I got nothing.”
That’s what spiritual maturity is. Brokenness, contrition, constant dependence on the Lord. “Lord, sustain me.”
We Accept Challenges Because Christ Already Won
It says, “Lord, I need you more and more. I see the sin. It’s always knocking on the door of my heart. Always wanting to come in. Tired of it. I need you, Lord. I need you to go before me. I need you to go behind me. I need you to intercede for me.”
That’s the only way that we can accept the challenges of life. We can only accept them knowing what Christ has already done for us. That Jesus already fought and died and poured out his blood, his very life unto death, even death on a cross.
It may be bad news from the doctor. But you can confidently say, come what may.
Why?
The last sentence, chapter 5, paragraph 5, confession:
“So whatever happens to any of his people happens by his appointment.”
What? Yeah.
“For his glory and for our good.”
That’s why.
Why God Even Uses Our Sin
Again, God even uses our sin for several reasons here:
- It’s to lovingly correct us.
- Graciously remind us of our weakness.
- Mercifully humble us.
- Lead us to a closer and closer, more dependence upon Christ to sustain us.
- And it also makes us more cautious of the sin that’s coming at us, maybe in the future. “Look out, here it comes. Keep an eye out.”
And for that, we can be thankful, just like Paul, who’s already been poured out as a drink offering before the Lord.
Remember, everything that happens to the children of God is by God’s appointment.
“What about the bad stuff?”
This is what it says:
“It’s for his glory. It’s for our good.”
And our response must be then: “Lord, I’m going to embrace it. I’m going to accept it.”
The Reality of Lifelong Challenges
I know that everything’s happening according to the plan. It’s not easy because we only look at life in moments of time. And the corruption of the prosperity gospel that has just bitten down into our soul, that we can’t shake it. “Say, Lord, how long? Remove this cup from me. I don’t want it.”
But yeah, Lord, just like Jesus said:
“Not my will, but yours be done.”
Everything’s going well. It’s easy to be complacent, easy to take all of the Lord’s good graces for granted. But when that health is taken away, when you lose that one loved one, when that bank account dries up, could we say with Job the famous words? You’ve all heard them.
“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but blessed be your name.”
That’s the work of the Spirit of God. That’s a testimony to the power of Christ to lead us into a more humble and constant dependence upon the Lord Jesus.
Why? Because life’s challenges, and many times, simply cannot be fixed. You look at them, you study it, you figure out a strategy, you offer solutions, nothing works. Maybe the Lord wants us to be more dependent on him.
There’s nothing we can do but cry out in desperation and pain.
Paul’s Perspective: Departure Is Near
As we consider what Paul is saying about the time of his departure, he’s presenting a picture for us. Think about the picture of a ship that’s getting ready to sail. It’s in the harbor. It’s about to loose the anchor. It’s raising up the sails. It’s time to fly away into glory.
But we also know that God has numbered our days. He set the very number of hairs on your head. Some of you more than others. That not even a bird falls from the sky without his knowledge.
Do you know that kind of God?
Do you understand this God that we serve? How much does God love us? How much does he care about every detail of our lives? God didn’t create the world and everything in it only to just let it go. “Go ahead. Try to figure it out.” No.
God’s providence is at work both in the good and the bad that happens to you.
Shifting Our Perspective on Life and Death
Pastor, I don’t want to hear it. I want to hear the good. I came to be puffed up. I came to be lifted up. “Come on!” How much different would we think about our lives if the time of departure, just like Paul, was upon us? Surely we’d consider all of the possessions and comforts as quite trivial.
You’ve heard it said before: you’ve never seen a U-Haul at the back of a hearse. It’s just foolishness. And so the more that we can detach ourselves from the world and its trappings, the better we can think about what truly is important. Because God has fixed the day that our ships are going to be set in sail for glory.
Trust in the Lord. Accept the challenges of life as having been God’s appointment for our good and His glory.
What does that do for our hearts? Man, it produces comfort, rest. That’s what the Lord wants from us. He wants to comfort us in our affliction. He wants to humble us. He wants to grow us in a more constant dependence upon the Lord Jesus. He also wants us to be ready to give our testimony for the hope that’s within us. He wants us to realize that the life is short. Many are perishing. “Lord, teach me. Lord, if you could just use me to reach one more soul before I depart, I’d be most grateful.”
Paul’s Confidence to Say “I Fought the Good Fight”
Look at verse 7. How do you think Paul was able to say that he fought the good fight? Well, first of all, what is this good fight? Obviously, it wasn’t the bad fight. Paul’s life wasn’t mired in scandal and controversy.
The good fight says, “I’m going to keep on fighting, knowing that Christ is working mightily through me.” We don’t live our Christian lives depending on our own personal strength and wisdom. No, it comes from on high.
That’s how we can say, not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit, says the Lord. We can contend and struggle even in the fiercest opposition to this gospel we proclaim. Why? Because we know that the Lord has already fought and won.
We make it our goal to reach for Christ, to attain Christ, to behold him, to know that he’s seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. There’s no other way, man, we can pour out our lives as a drink offering before the Lord.
Lay Aside Every Weight
What must we do in this process? What must we prepare ourselves? Well, writer of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 says, “Since we’re surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let’s lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race.”
You see that? Paul’s about to finish the race. We gotta keep running the race. We got this sin. We got these burdens. We gotta throw them off. We gotta think about all the saints that went before us. They’re not peering over heaven looking down. “Here is the cloud. Look.” No, no, no.
There is a whole host of them that have gone before us. Consider. Consider all those that have suffered and died for the cause of Christ. Keep pressing on. Keep laying aside the burdens. Laying aside the sin that so easily entangles you.
The Daily Fight Against Sin
This is why we need to live a lifestyle of repentance. You’re in the good fight every day, fighting against sin, running to Christ, and you can only accept the challenges knowing that Christ has won the victory. Christ is victorious over sin and death.
And what is a better motivator toward your victorious Christian life than knowing the victory that Christ has bought for you? It’s Christ in us, the hope of glory. It’s not the power of programs or personal disciplines. It’s the power of Christ, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
So pour out your life because Christ has already been poured out for you. Know the time of departure is at hand. Lay aside every weight and sin that so easily entangles you. And when Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” he was saying, take up death. Be willing to die, not just suffer hardship, but count your life as not even dear unto yourself.
So our only confidence is in Christ. He willingly followed the course that was set before him, that he’s willing to die, that he’s even death on a cross.
You see, Jesus finished the race, and he’s going to empower us to finish our race as well too, because it’s his power in us.
No Fear in Judgment for Those in Christ
It’s sad when I hear of many Christians that are fearful of standing before God after they die. For some reason, they think that they didn’t do enough, that they haven’t prayed enough or served enough.
“Why? I just want the Lord to tell me, well done, good and faithful servant, enter into my rest. But what if I didn’t do what he wanted me to do?”
You see, God is already pleased with us because we’re in Christ. We’re not going to stand before him on the last day as he tells us all the many missed opportunities that we had. All of the bad performance that we brought. In Christ, we have no fear of judgment. It’s already been paid.
But surely, surely we want to please the Lord. We want to be faithful in our service to Him. Of course we do. But the motivation is the key. It’s joy, not dread. The motivation is the gospel of Jesus Christ, not what I have to do for him, but what I have the privilege and joy of doing for him.
You see the difference?
Stand Strong — Your Life Is a Testimony
Take up your shield, man. Take up the power of your faith that God has given you. Let that seize your soul. Persevere, stand strong. Don’t abandon the faith that was once delivered to the saints, but do so in light of what Paul said in Acts chapter 20, 24:
“I do not count my life as any value nor as precious to myself. If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I receive from the Lord Jesus to testify of the gospel, the grace of God.”
The Lord Jesus has given you a ministry to carry out. Keep your focus on the gospel and what God has graciously done for you. And you’ll be surprised how much that motivates you to serve the Lord in everything you do.
2. Embrace What Will Come After This Life (Because Christ Has Prepared It)
So that’s the first. Accept the challenges of life knowing that Christ has already fought and won.
Second, we want to embrace what will come after this life, knowing that all that Christ has prepared for his beloved. And that we see in verse 8:
“Henceforth… or in the future, another translation, there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.”
The Five Crowns of Scripture
So not only must we accept the challenges of life, but we also need to embrace what will come after this life.
See, Paul spoke triumphantly in verses 6 to 7. You notice that? And now he is speaking in verse 8 expectantly.
Let’s consider for a moment this crown of righteousness that we read about. Do you understand that to be an actual crown, symbolic? Now, look at the five crowns that are described in the New Testament. There’s actually five of them to consider:
- An imperishable crown
- A crown of rejoicing
- A crown of glory
- A crown of life
- And here, the crown of righteousness
These crowns are not what we might understand from an earthly perspective.
You see, Paul knew his audience. He understood that they, he knew that they were into the Greek games. You know, the athletes participated. Only one received the crown. But this crown was more like a wreath of leaves that were strewn together.
Obviously, that type of crown doesn’t last very long. And not even the glory of winning will even last that long. So many athletes train their entire lives with the hope that one day we’re going to get it, man. We’re going to get that Super Bowl. We’re going to win that World Series.
But inevitably, what happens after they win? Well, it’s not enough. What they thought would give them the greatest joy was just temporary, was just fleeting.
Crowns That Last Forever
So maybe they need to win another championship. Maybe that will do it. Maybe that will satisfy the emptiness, but it never does.
The glorious thing about all the crowns that we are to receive is that they last forever.
Consider this imperishable crown. Paul told the church in Corinth not to run after the things that do not last, but to run after Christ, and surely you’ll receive the prize of eternal life. You will surely inherit every good thing that comes from Christ. Don’t be consumed by the things of the world that are just fading away.
And then there’s a crown of rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 2:19. What better way to describe that moment when we escape all of suffering? All of that pain. I can’t imagine the kind of rejoicing, praising of God, giving thanks to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing. Keep your eye open. On the crown, the anticipation of that great day when we’ll be rejoicing and worshiping and glorifying God perfectly.
Then there’s a third crown, 1 Peter 5:4:
“When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.”
Think about that for a moment. Beholding the glory of God in the actual face of Jesus Christ, when we see him and the glory that surrounds him, when the weight of God’s presence is fully intact, perfectly displayed before our eyes, we will see him in all his glory.
“Nobody else is excited but me.” Oh, wow.
And there’s the fourth crown, the crown of life. James 1:12:
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when he stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
The wonderful promise is that Jesus Christ is going to keep us. It’s not, do I love him enough? He’s loved you first and you love him. He’s going to keep us through even the hardest trials of life.
Spiritual Crowns Reserved by God
This is the joy of knowing the fullness of eternal life. All the questions that we have to ask about this eternal state of blessedness will be answered.
What will heaven be like? Are we going to get bored? What are we going to do for all eternity? All these crazy things that we think about now, completely blown away here. No.
And the fifth crown, of course, in our text, the crown of righteousness. This gift—not something that we work toward, not something that we earn with all of our religious efforts and works and sweat and tears. No. The crown, this state of eternal blessedness where righteousness reigns.
Psalm 89:14 says:
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.”
We can see that these crowns are spiritual in nature. It’s rejoicing. It’s glory. It’s righteousness. It’s life. All of which is unfading and will never fade away. Never perish.
I want you to notice all of this is reserved for you in heaven.
Not Earned—Gifted
God has not commanded his angels to get busy in the crown factory. “Hey, Gabriel. Hey, Michael. The rewards in my book are changing. These Christians aren’t performing very well. Take his name off. He only gets one crown. No, no, give him two. He gets that one.”
This is not how it works. This is not the Lord saying, “I want to give you these crowns, but if you could just try harder, if you could just be better.”
No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. “Sally, sorry, you only get the crown of life. The crown of glory is reserved for the super saints.”
No. None of that.
It’s all the crowns for all of God’s people. It’s rejoicing and righteousness and glory and life. All that’s imperishable, reserved for all who long for the appearing of the Lord Jesus.
Longing for His Appearing
It was the early church that made the practice after communion. They would say Maranatha. “Come, Lord Jesus.” And that describes all of us who love the Lord. Keep saying it. Keep telling him, “Come, Lord Jesus. Come. Come on, Lord. Come on.”
Why does that… why do we do that? Because we’re tired. Because the sin that keeps messing with me. Because this world that keeps declining. Because this devil prowling around looking for somebody to destroy.
We long for our final deliverance from this body of death. That’s by design. He doesn’t want you getting too comfortable in this temporary dwelling here.
“Anybody too comfortable? Raise your hand. We’ll talk later.”
It’s what the Bible calls the blessed hope. It’s a happy hope. And the race is over. This is a good thing.
We’ll finally be able to throw down those battle swords, take off that shield of armor, rest eternally with the Savior, looking now for our blessed hope. That’s a crucial hope. Otherwise, we can get discouraged with the sin that so easily besets us.
The Righteous Judge and True Vindication
You see the irony here with what Paul’s saying in verse 8 about the Lord is a righteous judge? He’s kind of sticking it to Nero a little bit. Because Nero’s saying to him, “No, you’re guilty. I’m going to condemn you to death.” But Paul knows that the Lord has vindicated him.
The righteous judge has set him free from the penalty of sin and death.
“You can take my body, but nothing’s going to separate me from the love of God in Christ. Neither death nor life.”
Christ alone has all power and authority. Christ alone has the power to pardon sin, executing judgment on the wicked, eternal life to all those that have called upon his name.
In fact, Paul reminded the church in Rome, “Hey, who’s going to bring a charge against God’s elect? Anybody? Anybody want to do that? I don’t think so.”
The Lies of the Enemy and the Truth of the Gospel
You ever been accused of doing something you didn’t do? Terrible feeling. Your heart cries out, “Injustice. Not fair. I’m not guilty. I didn’t do it.”
The enemy of our soul will accuse us day and night. He will accuse us of not being good enough. “There’s no way that you should be struggling with that kind of sin. Come on. You should be a lot farther along than you are. Surely true Christians don’t have that many troubles and sorrows. God must not love you. He must not be pleased with you.”
All of those lies. Have you heard them this week? Have you heard them today?
Kick them out.
As Wendy says, “We’re doing remodel here.” I like that. Romans 12:1, remodeling our hearts and minds.
God is pleased with you because you’re in Christ. You’ve been set free and you’re awaiting your final deliverance from this body of death when all is made right.
It’s that great and glorious day. Man, he’s coming down in the clouds with power and great glory. Have you heard? Have you talked about it? Have you mentioned it? Have you shared with your neighbor? “He’s coming down in the clouds, brother. No more sin, no more sorrow.”
A Vision of Glory
Duncan read Revelation 21 today. Very perfect timing. Earlier, that is. Rejoice with me. Cry out to the Lord. “Come, Lord Jesus. Maranatha.”
Are you longing for that day? Who’s longing for the day? “Thank you. Sorry, that was manipulation there.”
Jesus said… Jesus said that he has prepared a place for us with him in glory. He’s going to take us there. He’s going to walk with us. We’re going to hold his hand. We’re going to go down those streets of gold.
Think about all of that, all of the cares that you bear on this earth, all the sorrows, all the suffering. It’s going to be put away for good.
All of our thinking that’s messed up, all of our feelings and emotions, all of our living that’s not right will be in perfect alignment with God’s design. You’re not going to have a bad thought. You’re not going to do a wrong thing. You’re not going to have regret. You’re not going to have fear.
You’re just going to worship and worship and worship to the Lamb of God who’s taken away the sins of the world to all who believe.
A Song of Hope
At the close of the service, we’re going to sing a song called “On That Day.” And the chorus goes like this:
“On that day, we will see you shining brighter than the sun.
On that day, we will know you as we lift our voice as one.
Till that day, we will praise you for your never-ending grace.
And we will keep on singing on that glorious day.”
We’re going to see Jesus fully. We’re going to know Jesus more intimately. We’re going to praise him unendingly, all for the praise of his glorious grace.
3. Come to the Aid of Others (Because Christ Works Through You)
Accept the challenges of life. Embrace what will come after this life.
And lastly and briefly, come to the aid of others, knowing that Christ will provide comfort through you.
It’s verse 9, very short. Paul says to Timothy:
“Do your best to come to me soon.”
You see, even though Paul expressed his joy, we could see the triumph. We could see the victory. Even though he was full of that and an eager expectation, “Man, I know what’s coming. I know that crown of righteousness,” what did he still need?
He needed his brother. He needed his brother to come soon.
We Need Each Other
We need each other. Have you ever heard anyone say, “You know what? I don’t really need more encouragement. I’m doing just fine. I got this”? Now, of course, that’s pride talking, but most people need encouragement.
Suffering is still—just because God has decreed it—does that make it anything less difficult? No. Provides us some comfort, but suffering is hard. Hardships are difficult.
And God has given us this wonderful gift called the church. Look around. Say hi. This is your family. We are here for one another.
Yes, I know it comes with challenges. Yes, we will sin against each other. There will be misunderstandings at times. Does that mean that we go running? “I’ve been hurt. I’m out. I’m bound out. I’ve been hurt.”
No.
There’s nothing better than coming to another brother or sister in the Lord and providing them with encouragement.
Be Present
Notice Paul didn’t say, “Hey, Timothy, yeah, you can come when you have some time, when it’s convenient for you, when you can make the trip.” No. He says, come to me soon.
There’s an urgency in his tone.
And while many of us wouldn’t admit it, we need each other. We need the comfort and encouragement that Christ will provide through us.
It’s powerful just to be present with another brother or sister who’s suffering. We often think, “Man, they’re going through so much. I don’t know what I’m going to say. I don’t know what can make them feel better.”
But many times it isn’t words. It’s being present. It’s weeping with those who weep. It’s mourning with those who mourn.
We can share in one another’s suffering just by being present with them. Just by letting them know that you are there for them in their pain.
Someone’s on their deathbed. We surely are going to clear that schedule and get over there in haste to make time for them because their departure has come. Why? Time is short.
We don’t want to miss the opportunity to say goodbye, to encourage them in their faith, to let them know the Lord Jesus is holding them, keeping them, and will deliver them very, very soon.
Christ Provides Comfort Through You
So come to the aid of others. Come with the confidence of Christ, not your own. Come with the confidence that Christ will work through you by his Spirit to provide comfort to that brother or sister.
Don’t worry about what you’re going to say. Comfort them with the comfort that you receive from the Lord. That’s what Paul told the church in Corinth.
That is why it’s so powerful when you’ve been through the very same hard times they are going through now. You can tell them, “This is how the Lord worked in my life when I was sick, when I was depressed, when I was down and out. Receive the comfort of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Closing Application
So as we close, it’s so vitally important that we understand all of what Christ has done for us, all of the work that he’s finished for us, all that he has prepared for us in heaven. It’s only then that we can more fully understand the work that he’s doing through us.
So whatever happens, happens according to his appointment for his glory and for our good.
What a comfort to the soul. What a motivator to pour out our lives as a drink offering before the Lord, knowing that the cause of Christ is worth it.
There’s an eternal crown. There’s a crown of rejoicing, a crown of glory, a crown of life, a crown of righteousness—this eternal state, blessedness, unfading, never to be destroyed.
So come to the aid of others. Trust that Christ will work for you.
Practical Application
In application, consider one person right now who needs encouragement. And this week, come to their aid. Pray with them. Offer them words. Be with them in presence. Your presence.
Confession and Assurance
We come now to confession. We have this quiet time before the Lord. It’s where we tell Jesus, “Yes, this is my sin. You have been aware of this.” And we let him know, “Man, I’ve been too focused on the things of this world. I’ve been too focused on the comforts and the pleasures instead of the unfading crown of glory.”
And let’s then, after we’ve done that, after we’ve had a time to confess, receive assurance that Christ is enough, that he has paid the penalty, that his work is finished. So you can say confidently:
Come what may.
Ready to Take Your Next Steps at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel?
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