Brought Safely to the Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom
Brought Safely to the Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom July 17, 2022
“At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen.” (II Timothy 4:16-18)
Living the Christian life is most rewarding yet it is not an easy life. In his letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him of this fact, “And indeed, all (Christians) who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12).”
In a time when the apostle Paul needed support from his brethren he got none as they had all deserted him in his time of need. Instead of holding a grudge against them for abandoning him, he asked that God not count this sin against them. He knew how difficult it was to stand up for what is right is a world that opposed it.
Like Jesus, Paul knew that he was never alone as long as he did what God wanted him to do (John 8:29). He knew that God was there with him in every trying, difficult moment in his life especially in those times when he had to make a defense and account of his activities before the governing and ruling authorities of his day.
The strength that Paul needed to proclaim the gospel to all the Gentiles came from knowing that God was always with him. He was never, ever alone. And God was there to deliver him from death and from every evil deed planned against him. God had a purpose for Paul and nothing was going to prevent Paul from fulfilling that purpose.
Paul was determined to please God and accomplish His will as long as he lived. He knew his God and he knew about the heavenly kingdom God had waiting for him. It was a kingdom that Paul longed for and, in confidence, states that one day God would bring him safely to it.
In anticipation of such an event Paul states, “To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.” When Christians and all the faithful from the beginning of time to the end of time are brought to this heavenly kingdom, God will be glorified, exalted, lifted up and magnified forever and ever.
No one should ever want to miss out on being brought to the heavenly kingdom of God. Only through obeying the gospel can one have Paul’s confidence that God would one day bring him there.
Are you confident that one day the Lord will bring you to His heavenly kingdom? If not, please let us help you, through a study of the scriptures, develop that same confidence Paul had.
Brian Thompson