Deliverance and Preservation Promised (2 Tim 4:17-18)

(vs16-18) At my first defense, no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

We have confidence in the Lord Jesus and the grace of God. Salvation isn't doubtful but sure. We labor knowing what the result will be, as forgiven and sure of life eternal. We work under God's umbrella, protected and assured by Him. This is our right, O doubtful Christians. Believe and work by faith.

First, don't be doubtful about tomorrow. The Lord will “deliver” and “preserve” you. The future is held by Him who holds you. The same Christ who saved you thus far - who paid your sin debt - is the same Christ who will keep you, even in death.

He who has BEEN faithful will continue to be so, and the past is a foreshadowing of the future. He will be faithful still.

Secondly, He gives us strengthening grace. Paul said, “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (vs17). What we need in the trial is given. Not only is the end promised, but the path of blessing is yours too. He takes care of the details, rules the lion Satan, and strengthens you according to His will. Paul said, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith... and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:16-19).

You see how Paul was abandoned by friends and hated by foes, and yet God was enough? He said, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim 4:16-17). Thus, when life kicks you down, Satan roars, and your friends turn tail on you, just REMEMBER that having God is more than enough. His arm shines more powerfully when no other hand is seen!

Thirdly, the place you're going is “His heavenly kingdom”, to sin no more, to rest, and to enjoy peace (vs18).

Your battle time is now, but the real you will live eternally, UNFETTERED by sin and Satan.

You and I receive all of our bad stuff here, but the time is coming, in Abraham's bosom, protected in the covenant of peace, that we shall receive what the Lord Jesus died to give, which is face to face contact and conformity to God. John says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Soon, we shall be loved and loving, at peace and peaceful, and we'll have nothing to disturb our peace. No more temptations, evil thoughts, or broken dreams! Only good, pleasure, and beauty, forever. He told the transformed thief on the cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”, a garden of pleasure (Luke 23:43).

Lastly, our job is to make this HOPE known to others. Paul said the Lord “stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles may hear it”, so that he had a reason for being delivered, which is to serve others. The fact that we have SO much in Christ compels us to stretch out Christ to men. “Therefore”, Paul says, “from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh (in unbelief), yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor 5:16-17). Having so much, God's love forces us to serve others willingly.