This sermon was first preached in Medellin Colombia and then again (in a modified form) at Folsom Community Church on 8/21/11.
Legacy Impact
Introduction: When You Leave, What Will They Say? (vs. 2-3)
In a famous scene in the Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, everyone thinks that Tom is dead, including his family, his teacher and even the girl that he likes from school. But Tom is not dead and at his own funeral, has a chance to secretly listen to what people said. The girl is sorry she was so cold towards Tom. The citizens of the town wonder how they overlooked such a good boy. The pastor gives a beautiful sermon. Everyone cries for Tom. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Tom appears in the church and what can everyone do but love him, now that they’ve said all those nice things about him.
Many of us would like to know what Tom discovered: what do people really think about me? What really is the permanent result of my life? Will I be forgotten? Will I just be one more grave marker in the cemetery? [Arlington] This is what the Bible says:
For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,” – 1 Peter 4:24 |
Life is short. This thought was clearly in the thoughts of the Apostle Paul as he was writing his 2nd letter to Timothy, as he was sitting in the prison because of his role in starting new churches and telling people about Jesus Christ.
for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. – 2 Timothy 2:9 |
Many of his friends have abandoned him.
for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me… – 2 Timothy 4:10 |
Others have publicly ridiculed his teaching and his career. When he went to his trial, there was no one in the trial to support him. Listen to what he said:
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. – 2 Timothy 4:16 |
He is not sure he will ever be released. His physical health is fading.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. – 2 Timothy 4:6 |
So with all of this, Paul might be thinking “Was it worth it? Did I really need to do all this? Couldn’t I have just sat in my chair, with my drink in my hand and watched soccer with my friends? Why did I have to do all of this God stuff? Why did I work so hard for so many years?”
Is that what Paul was thinking? No! He is thinking about the job that God had given him. He tells his close friend Timothy-a friend so close he calls him his “son”-to speak the same important message:
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. - 2 Timothy 2:1-2 |
They say that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” That is, if they copy you, it is really because what you said and did was important. Paul tells Timothy, “I lived my life in front of many witnesses. I gave my message in front of many witnesses. Now, you, my friend, live your life, give your message.” The impact of your life will be measured by changes in their life. Not by how many Starbuck’s mugs you have in your collection, nor trophies on your shelf, nor best sales awards, cruises taken or diplomas earned, but by the changes in lives. God has placed you.
Who are the witnesses of your life?
What message are you giving?
Your Impact Comes From Your Focus On God (vs. 4)
Paul was very aware that the way that we live our lives can either improve or destroy the message. So, in the following verses, he uses three word pictures; three illustrations to show how God’s message is hidden or blocked by the way in which we live our lives and the choices that we make. The first picture comes from verses 3-4:
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. – 2 Timothy 2:3-4 |
Notice that Paul says: “good soldier” We all know that there can be many types of ‘bad’ soldiers, for many reasons. But the “good soldier” described by the Apostle Paul is focused on one thing: Jesus Christ. He is not distracted by other duties. He is not worried about the opinions of other people. He watches his commanding officer closely, and when the order comes, he says “Yes, sir!” and carries it out with all of his strength.
Now imagine a different kind of soldier—a bad soldier. He is set to guard something. But then a pretty girls walks by. But then he starts talking with his friends. Then he starts texting on his phone. He starts thinking about what the doctor said. And while he is doing these—none of which is really bad—the situation is the same as if there was no guard. He has lost his focus.
Sometimes we get caught in the ritual of daily life. The ritual of eat/work/sleep. The ritual of fútbol. Even the ritual of church. We forget that these are not the goal of our life. These are not the goal. They are the journey. If having a beautiful family and a good job and an exciting game and a fun church are the goal, then they become so large in our life that they block out God.
God has given us a message. The gospel of Jesus. We are his messengers. We are his ambassadors. We are his soldiers, charged to carry the message. We carry the message to our families. To our place of work. To our schools. Even to our vacations. [France]
There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the baseball team, the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit a home run into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read." Keep your focus on Jesus. Keep your focus on the message he gave to you. Don’t get distracted.
Your Impact Comes When You Keep The Rules (vs. 5)
The second picture comes from verse 5:
Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. – 2 Timothy 2:5 |
It is the picture of an athlete.
Have you ever thought about it: Why do we have referees and umpires? Sometimes it seems they just exist to create controversy. But the real reason is that we are tempted to win by skipping the rules. We like those rules that tell us when we win, but those which tell us when we are ‘out of bounds’ those we don’t like. Our lifestyle is oriented around the mantra that ‘as long as no one catches me’ it is ok. We are tempted to take the easy road instead of the right/straight road. We want the prize, but we don’t want the pain.
[Illustration from the life of Tyler Hamilton, who, after found violating the Olympic doping regulations had to give back his 2004 Olympics gold medal]
God created us with a purpose. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
God will not ask you to do anything that requires going outside the rules. “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” – James 1:13
God always provides an alternative solution. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
[Illustration concerning Arnold Schwarzenegger, successful body-builder, movie star, politician, husband who lost it all when he decided to pursue happiness outside the bounds of marriage.]
Your Impact Is Strengthened By Your Hope (vs. 6)
The first picture was the soldier. The second picture was the athlete. The third picture is found in verse 6:
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. – 2 Timothy 2:6 |
It is the picture of a farmer. There is a lot of faith involved in being a farmer. There is the hard work and the investment up front, with little or no immediate reward and then waiting through the uncertainty of weather and soil and disease. A few years ago, we went to visit my wife’s professor near Toronto, Canada, who now farms thousands of acres of potatoes under contract from Lay’s chip company. Potatoes are the most frustrating of crops, because the part you can see is the part you don’t really care about: the leaves and stems. The part you really care about is down under the soil, hopefully soaking in the nutrients, but they could be rotting away and you wouldn’t know whether your efforts are wasted.
That’s what Paul is saying here: sometimes the godly life, the life of a hard-working follower of Jesus, is an uncertain one; whether the time and energy that you put into peoples’ lives, is worth it. Some people are just such losers, such leeches, such a waste of time, such money pits, such black holes for emotional energy. Whenever I start thinking that, God prompts me and says: That person is just like you on a different day. That person is just like you except for grace. Why do you think your name is “Lewis” (big L on forehead for ‘loser’)? No person has more need of God’s grace than you. No person has less need of God’s grace than you.
You see the farmer knows that the result his hard work is ultimately not in his hands, it is in God’s. And here, Paul is reassuring Timothy: no exertion for God is wasted; no tear is forgotten; no encouraging word mis-spent; no blood spilled pointless because it is God who guarantees the harvest. And, we who work the fields, will share in the joy. Here is what Paul wrote about this:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:9-10 |
Conclusion
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. – 2 Timothy 2:7 |
Paul says, “Think!” Why does God want me alive? Why am I still breathing air? Why am I still using up food?
Paul is feeling his age in this letter. He is not confident about the outcome of his trial. And in reflecting on his life, here is what he concluded:
I have fought the good fight [soldier], I have finished the race [athlete], I have kept the faith [farmer]. 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. – 2 Timothy 4:7-8 |
God has made you a leader. A leader in your family; a leader in your office; a leader in your school; a leader in your church or community. You are leading. But where? Did you expand heaven’s reach into the world where you live? Or is it more like a 1-legged duck, swimming in circles.
Maybe you’ve come to this Sunday with the conclusion that you have nothing left to give, because of what you have done; because of your age or your health or whatever. Paul could have said that. He could have coasted into eternity. But he knew that you fulfill God’s purpose and then you die. If you’re still breathing, God has more for you to do. That’s why Paul told Timothy:
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. – 2 Timothy 4:11-13 |
Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, did get to hear what people thought about him. Twice during his lifetime, there was an incorrect report of his death and he read his own death notice (obituary) in the newspaper. Not satisfied with the results, he even wrote a humorous article asked for the privilege of editing his own obituary. I will correct them - not the Facts, but the Verdicts - striking out such clauses as could have a deleterious influence on the Other Side, and replacing them with clauses of a more judicious character.
Then he was able to read the many letters of sympathy, and the articles written about his legacy; his impact. But you know, that wasn’t enough. He wanted to insure he would be remembered. He wanted to live forever through his books. So he piled up manuscripts and, in his will, he required that his autobiography not be published until 100 years after his death, so that people would still remember what one of the most brilliant authors and speakers in American history would be remembered.
Jesus Christ wrote no books. But there were 4 separate records of his words. His lasting impact was in the lives of his followers.
Maybe you’ve realized this morning that, if you disappeared, there would be no impact other than 6 foot deep crater your body will occupy when you die. Maybe you realized that the influence that you have, you have been using to lead people in the wrong direction or in no direction at all. Jesus died so that we can move from the aimless life; the insignificant life; the forgotten life; into eternal life; As it says in the Bible, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Heb. 12:2a) Have you ever said to Jesus: “Jesus, I am wrong. I am lost. Thank you for dying on the cross; your life for mine; your strength for my weakness; your righteousness for my sin. I want to follow your direction for my life.”
What is your impact? Where are you leading?
