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It Ain't Over Yet


Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. (II Timothy 4:9-13) 

            “I have fought the good fight” Paul told Timothy. “I am ready to be poured out like a drink offering.” Yesterday’s passage was all about endings. Paul knew he didn’t have much time left. He’d done all he could. He’d done enough. It’s thought that II Timothy was written around 67 AD, which would have made him about 62 years old. That’s about the time that people today think they should be allowed to retire. They’ve worked enough. Of course, in Paul’s case, his retirement party apparently involved his receiving an ax or a sword through the neck. 
            While Paul was clearly looking forward to retirement, today’s passage takes a different tone. Paul wanted Timothy to come to him. This may have been partly because he was feeling abandoned by friends who weren’t strong enough to be true. It may have been partly because he just missed his friend and student, but there were practical matters. He wanted Timothy to bring is cloak, and some scrolls and parchments… books. He may have wanted them in order to bequeath them to specific people, but I suspect he wanted them for his own use. Getting ready to retire didn’t mean slowing down, taking it easy, handing responsibility off to someone else. It means continuing to find ways to bring love, truth and faith into the lives of others. I hope when I’m sixty-two, and seventy-two, and eighty-two and maybe even in ninety-two that I am still learning and finding ways to share what I learn, and that I have friends who will support me in that adventure.

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