Someday we will wake up and find ourselves in the heavenly glory of our Lord’s presence. All our tears will be wiped away, all our problems will be solved and all our hurts will be healed. But we’re not there yet. (Sorry.) The world we live in is still fallen and full of difficulties. If we expect our lives to have an enduring impact, then we must be people who are able to endure.
“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.” – William James, American Philosopher
Timothy had seen a lot of the Christian life. There were plenty of temptations to take the easy way out. But a life worth living is never a life of ease. If Timothy was to finish well, he would need to give 100%. This life is the only chance we have to make a difference for Jesus. How are we going to spend it?
The year is roughly A.D. 67. Paul is in Rome again, this time a prisoner in a dungeon. Luke was his only visitor. Shortly hereafter, the story goes, he was beheaded under Nero. These are his last recorded words.
Did anyone have to teach you how to complain? Of course not. Discontent comes to us naturally; contentment does not. We have to train ourselves to be content, satisfied, at ease with our situation – and that’s what this chapter is about.
Central Reflections 