For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12
While awaiting execution in Rome, Paul penned his second letter to Timothy to fortify Timothy’s resolve to continue in his ministry. With such terrible circumstances looming in the background, how could he remain calm and continue focusing on Timothy’s needs and those of the church in Ephesus? Paul had to look beyond the current distress to something transcendent of earthly struggles and strife. Paul spoke of the spirit of power God gave His people and encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed of him or the testimony that landed him in his current situation (vv. 7-8). In verses 9-10, he gave the foundation for such courage: God saved them in Christ, called them with a holy calling, and abolished death through the gospel (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Hebrews 2:14-15).
You and I must build our faith on this same foundation if we would overcome our difficulties and remain faithful to Him. The significance of this cannot be overstated as it is impossible to please Him in the absence of faith (Hebrews 11:6). That faith comes from hearing His word and assessing it properly. Paul commended the Thessalonians for their reception of the gospel for what it truly was, the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). This is not a mere mental exercise as Paul stressed that the word which they received was at work in them. This reminds me of the good soil in The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15). Without proper reception of the seed of the kingdom (the word of God: Luke 8:11), no good fruit comes to fruition. However, when the seed makes its way into the good soil of an honest and receptive heart, it produces a yield that is profitable for God and humanity.
Timothy was to take the things Paul had given him and hold fast the pattern of sound words (1:13), commit them to other faithful men who would in turn teach others (2:2), handle the word properly by diligent study (2:15), and boldly proclaim it in the presence of those who like it and those who do not (4:1-5). All this he was to do despite the knowledge that Paul was about to be wrongfully killed for doing the very things he was now telling Timothy to do (4:6-8).
This is the blueprint we must follow to remain faithful to God in every circumstance. How was Timothy to follow these instructions knowing of Paul’s fate? How are we to follow this example knowing the difficulties it naturally presents? By having the same knowledge that Paul had. In verse 12, Paul said he willingly suffered the things he did because he knew the One he believed, and he was persuaded (confident) that He was able to keep what Paul committed to Him until that day. That day clearly pertains to the day when God would judge the world in righteousness (cf. Acts 17:30-31).
Paul did not have a pie in the sky by and by kind of mystical “faith” grounded in whimsical feelings or his own imagination. No, the spirit of power and love God gave him was one “of a sound mind” as well (vs. 7). As Peter put it when seeing his own demise approaching, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1:19). True Christianity rests upon solid proofs, so it is incumbent upon us to search out that evidence and fortify our faith. Do you know whom you have believed? Are you persuaded that He can keep your soul until that day? Such is the anchor that will hold our souls steady in life’s storms (Hebrews 6:13-20).