Graham finished up his excellent series on 2 Timothy this morning.

2 Timothy Series - Final Part [ 30:25 ] Play in Popup | Download

2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This verse is spoken by the man who said in verses 6-8:
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.

1) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack
This does not mean he thinks he is not going to die. This is one who knows his life will go on beyond the grave.

Faithful believers do suffer awful things. It is the testimony of history.

It is the promise of Jesus. See John 16:32-33
But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble ['tribulation' in AV]. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

2) …and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
This was the longing of the criminal that died along with Jesus.

See Luke 23:40-43:
But the other criminal rebuked him. Don’t you fear God, he said, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

With Paul it was more than a longing, it was a certainty.

See Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ

See 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia- your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

See what Paul wrote to the Corinthians to see his convictions about this subject 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

How can we know what lies ahead for us? We reach out for certainty. There is so much speculation and sentimentalism, where can I turn for truth? Not the bright light at the end of the tunnel that has seeped into popular culture. I hold up scripture as the authority.

At a funeral it is wonderful to declare “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.” But if it can only make us feel good, it is a mocking lie. It is truly comforting because it is true!

The immortality spoke of in 1 Corinthians 15 means – without death/dying. A negative word with a positive meaning. It is a putting on and not a putting off, it is an adding to not a subtraction. We lose nothing worth keeping and only gain what is precious beyond our understanding.

Just think what Paul must have meant when he declared, “..to be with Christ is far better..” (Philippians 1:23) or “..to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Or the words of Jesus, when He said, “This day you shall be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:23)

When Paul taunted death declaring that the sting is gone. He was speaking in the present tense. See 1 Corinthians 15:56-57.

This is how he could write this confident way to Timothy.

3) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen

This is faith speaking “Thy will be done.”

See the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in
Matthew 6:9-11 (King James Version)
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen

This version is taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 1662. In this country it now the Anglicans that have abandoned it and now use a modern version. It is based on Matthew 6:9-13 in the King James Bible from AD 1611.