Thoughts From 2Timothy 4 - Part 2

 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2Tim. 4:6-8

       Throughout the Old Testament there were a number of feasts, sacrifices, and other occasions where liquids were poured out before or in honor to the Lord. When you consider the sacrifices, there were 5 in Leviticus, the trespass, sin, fellowship, meal, and lastly burnt offering which progressed in that order from mandatory to voluntary and each signified a deeper commitment to the Lord. In the latter ones like the grain or meal offering, the fruit of their labor would be surrendered to God and not only grain from the harvest but wine from the work in the vineyard would be poured out before the Lord in effect saying, "Everything I have, my very existence I owe to you." On the completion of a Nazarite vow, which was a totally optional vow of surrender and devotion to the Lord with rigorous demands on the body, wine would be poured out to honor the Lord.

       The instance that my mind immediately goes to, is when David remarks how he misses the sweet water from home and some of his brave men surprise him by risking their lives, going into enemy territory and bring him back a flask of water. He feels so unworthy to have his whims met by men who risked their lives in devotion and love for him, that he pours it out on the ground in sacrifice to the One who is truly worthy.

      Paul says in effect as his days on earth are nearing an end, that he is nothing but a glass of wine or water that symbolizes complete surrender to the Lord being poured out at His feet. He is like the servants in Luke 15 who after serving the master did not expect to sit down and have their needs ministered to but rather remarked, "let's keep on serving, we're only doing our duty." Paul says that he is that servant who has fulfilled his duty.

      I wonder if we could say that. Are you near completing your task of service to the Lord? Are you even serving? Do you know what your task even is? Are you going to hear Him say, "Well done my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful", or will He say, "Your brief time on Earth was a total waste of time". I want to hear Him say, "Well done"!