2 Timothy 3

Bible Passage: 2 Timothy 3

How do we keep ourselves from being defiled by this corrupt world? Will this world become ever more corrupt and do we find ourselves entangled or even deceived by it?

Almost 2000 years ago, Paul had already warned about this corruption. Back then, the society was already so corrupted, what more today? There are truly a lot of temptations and deception in this world today that can easily lead us away from the Truth and into sin. However, Paul’s solution to Timothy was to follow in his footsteps and to be guided by the Word of God.

If I were to describe Paul in my own words, I would say that Paul is an extremely focused man, highly persevering, full of love and above all a God fearing man. Paul was able to succeed as a model Christian because of his ability to put away the past and move forward despite all the opposition against him. He was able to succeed because of his fear of God and his focused aim to attain the heavenly prize; so much so that all the glory he attained in the past he treated them as refuse. Moreover, he was able to sacrifice his life and energy, “spend and to be spent” as he said, to the brethren because he was a man who repays back the debts he owed to Jesus and to the brethrens he once persecuted ignorantly.

Paul was right to ask Timothy to follow his footsteps. As a mentor to Timothy, he demonstrated what is to be ‘in the world’ and ‘out of the world’ at the same time. For Paul’s goal in life was spiritual and never worldly, so much so that he could survive in extreme environments and conditions and rejoiced always. However, Paul knew that with his passing, Timothy would need to rely and remember on the Words of God that was taught to him at a young age. 

As a Christian in my adulthood, I was not taught the Word of God at a young age. However, I can reminiscence the reason and experiences I had when I decided to be a Christian. In 3 months 1 day’s time I will be spiritually 10 years old. I thank God for his bountiful blessings and mercy this decade of my life. A lot of things happened during this time frame, and I have recorded all the milestones in my life for memory and as an encouragement for my family and myself.

Have I achieved my objective as a Christian? I would think not yet for I am still far from a ‘complete man of God’. I have yet to be the full fragrance of Christ and certain areas in my life I have not pleased God and would need improvements. Paul’s letter to Timothy, reminds us again that we need to be truly grounded in the Word of God; and that the Word of God can transform us to be well equipped workers for God and arm us to resist the tide of corruption that is spreading across the world. 

As a concluding verse, we read again these famous verses:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)