The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-12-03

good night I have finished my course
have kept the faith.
LESSON TEXT-II Timothy 4:6-1S.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Paul Finishes
His Work.
JUNIOR roP1c-Paul Finishes His
Work.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-The Missionary Work Goes On.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-Unto the Ends Of the Earth.
{. Paul's View Of Death ". 81.
This he sets forth under two meta
phors:
1. An offering ". g.. II am ready
to be offered" This figure. meaning
a drink offering, or libation. shows
that Paul was looking forward to
violent death. The shedding Of his
blood was to be an offering poured out
on the sacred altar as an act Of wor.
ship. Death can only be an offering to
God when the life has been wholly
yielded to the doing Of Gods will
2. A departure ". 81. "The time
Of my departure is at hand" The
same idea is expressed in Phil Leg.
departure" is a nautical term which
signifies the loosing Of ship from its
moorings in order to enter upon its
voyage. It is not the end Of the voy.
age, but its beginning. It indicates
that the vessel is outward bound. The
anchor Is being lifted. and the sails
are being spread for the homeland.
The same idea is expressed In Luke.
9:31, where the theme Of conversation
on the Mount Of TRANSPORTATION is
said to be the departure or exodus
which Christ should accomplish at
Jerusalem. What the exodus meant to
Israel. and more, death means to the
Christian.
u. Paul's Backward Glance at Life
". y.
God has a definite purpose for each
life. Life should be so spent that at
its close one may look back with a
definite consciousness that the divine
purpose has been accomplished. This
backward look is presented in three
figures:
l. II have fought a good fight"
The figure here is that Of soldier.
The Christian life is warfare. Con-
f1icts. dangers. and temptations must
be met.
2. II have finished my course" The
figure here is that Of an athlete who
sets out to win a race. The Christian
life is a race to be run.
8. I have kept the faith" The
figure is that Of husbandman to
whom had been entrusted treasure.
This treasure was the Christian faith.
In a peculiar way Paul was made
steward of the Christian faith. He
was conscious Of having been faithful
to the trust committed to him.
III. PauPs Forward Look to the
Future ". 81.
This is a beautiful picture Of the
calm at the end Of period Of faithful
service. Knowing that death was
awaiting him, there was no dark cloud.
/. He saw before him life with
God Eternal fellowship with God is
a prize greatly to be desired.
2. A prize was laid up for him-a
crown of Righteousness. This reward
will be given at the coming Of the
Lord to all who love his appearing.
~. Paul's Associates wv. 9-12).
1. Demas, the deserter " 1O). De-
mas has become immortalized as one
who was religious, but because Of its
attractions went after the world. The
love of the world caused him to turn
his hack upon principle. friendship.
honor. and duty.
2. Luke. the faithful ". 1D. What
a comfort it must have been to have
with him this one faithful soul Per-
haps he was the best fitted Of all to
minister unto Paul. Luke was faith
full in shipwreck. Imprisonment. in
journeying by land and sea.
8. Mark. the restored runaway
". 11). Mark had gone back but was
restored. This is a beautiful picture
and most comforting. Though we have
failed, we can redeem ourselves and
become trustworthy. Everyone who
has taken to heart his failure should
be given another chance.
v. Personal Matters wv. 1919.
L Bring the cloak. books. and
parchments ". 13). In the Jail the
cloak would be needed for his COM
fort. The books and parchments would
be required for his study and writing.
2. Wronged by Alexander. the cop.
persmith (vv. ii. 15). We have no
way OF determining just when this
deed was committed
3. Defended by the Lord though
forsaken by man wv. 1919. Paul in
he last trying hours was like his Lord
left alone. He says. "All men for
sock me. 1t was said of Christ that
all forsook him and fled. Paul mani
Tested a like spirit. II pray God that
It may not be laid to their charge"