The Lord Watches Our Faith
Paul had just told Timothy to flee from ungodliness, pursue righteousness, fight against Satan’s lies and hold onto eternal life (1 Timothy 6:11-12). Then Paul wrote that the instruction was not his idea but came from God the Father and God the Son. Timothy must take every step to ensure that his life was kept pure and his doctrine free from error because the Lord is coming back. It was a very strong command, which still applies to every believer and especially those who have spiritual responsibility for others (James 3:1).
The physical return of Jesus is the hope of every believer. God alone knows when, but Jesus has promised to come again in glory with authority to judge all people (Matthew 26:63-64). Nobody will be able to contest God’s judgement: it will be perfect because God is, for ever, supreme; only God’s Word will stand for ever (1 Peter 1:24-25).
The Christian faith is not a religious game. It is a serious relationship which begins when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and continues as a personal struggle to serve the Lord righteously - resisting temptations to think and behave in an ungodly way - until we meet Jesus face to face. The solemnity of that responsibility comes through in these verses which describe the awesome majesty of God who is beyond the reach of any human manipulation. Our only wise response is to trust the Lord and obey Him in every area of life.
© Dr Paul Adams