2 Timothy 4:6-18
The world's lie is that we need no one around, and we can thus survive alone.
Apostle Paul's experience with the Kingdom family and those who stand with him during trials and challenging times.
Paul, already aware his time was coming to an end, Paul fought his fight with sin to a finish and was resting in a complete victory; I have finished my course (he had been faithful in carrying out that which had been assigned to him), I have kept the Faith. -2 Timothy 4:7.
In this state, Paul was old, lonely, and alone in the Roman prison; he was probably 62 years of age and battered after a series of whipping and beating. In those days, Roman correctional officers had a way of stretching their prisoners before whipping them. They tie their hands up, suspending their body so that their toe can barely touch the ground; this causes their back to stretch out smoothly. When they whip them in this state, their back flesh is torn apart because of the stretch. Paul probably went through this at 62 at the hands of the Roman correctional officers.
While Paul was lonely and missed people and family around him, he requested to see Timothy and Luke; he longed to see them, the kingdom family; Timothy was in Ephesus, about 1,000 miles (1,609.34 km) from Rome; consequently, it was a journey which at best would take several weeks; whether the young Apostle made it there in time or made it at all, is not known.
Demas has deserted Paul; others were busy elsewhere. Only Luke was with Paul. He also desired to see Mark for ministry purposes; even though he was in prison, he kept pushing on the gospel.
Paul also asked for his Jacket; Roman prison was likely brick walled and very cold; it was pretty, possibly summer, when Paul wrote this Epistle, and if he is to survive till winter, he would need this Jacket.
Paul also requested his books, especially the Parchments, which were the Old Testament books. He required more of God's word to strengthen himself.
Paul also talked about how he was mistreated and the attempt by others to hinder the Work of God and do so by attempting to restrict the servant for God.
The bottom line is Paul was deserted; no one came to his defense in the court of law; he must have looked around and found no brother or kingdom family to support him in the court. The Actual life of Paul's experience.
One quickly finds precisely how many true Christians there are; regrettably, there aren't many! Yet Paul prayed for them. He prays to God that it may not be laid to their charge. (The Apostle pleads to the Lord for these weak, unnerved friends of his who, solely through fear and not ill-will to the cause, had deserted him, that their actions not be laid to their charge. -2 Timothy 4:16.
This makes us understand that we need three critical things in these troubling times.
-The presence of God -
Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with him and strengthened him, presenting that the Apostle experienced an unusual degree of the Presence of the Lord during this trying time. It was the presence of God that sailed him through those challenging times.
-The word of God -
We need the word of God at all times, either by listening or reading, to strengthen us and empower us through the trials we might be going through. No wonder Paul requested it; he probably could not go on without it.
- The people of God's kingdom around us -
We all need one another to support, encourage, pray, and lift one another up.
Irrespective of whatever we might be going through, these will see us through our trials, challenges, and downtimes.