2 Timothy 2:11-13 Gospel at the Crossroads of Life

2 Timothy 2: 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.  

Timothy is bombarded with pressures. There are times for all of us when either an onslaught of little things overwhelm us, or something comes that seems insurmountable and God causes us to pause and consider.  A crossroad.  A test of our allegiance.

Christmas morning, my daughter, then 11 years old, was sitting on a bench in the kitchen and started sliding off.  Being the family of 'clowns' that we are, I assumed she was goofing around.   Soon her eyes were 'rolling', her body went stiff and she slid to the ground, and we all stood there trying to process.  After moments that felt like an eternity, her eyes flooded with tears and she 'woke up'.  I called the Dr and he asked a few questions and said 'it sounds like she had a seizure, get her to the Emergency room for a CT Scan... I will call ahead, they'll be waiting for her'. 

We got in the car and headed out, and God and I had a big conversation.... the kind where I talk to Him and then tell myself what He would say based on what I know from Scripture.... (please tell me you do this too and I'm not the only crazy one)... and it went back and forth.

Me silently: "What if something is wrong with her?"  What if she has a tumor or something?

What I Know: What if something is wrong with her?   Do you trust God or not? 

Me:  "Oh God you wouldn't take my child"....

What I Know:  She belongs to God.. all you have is His ... Do you really believe this stuff or not?  You 'in or out'?  

Me: (heavy sigh... tears rolling like a river)  "Oh Lord, she is yours.  I am yours, whatever happens. You will give me the strength to get through"

And God showed up... He showed up big.  There was an immediate sense of peace that surpassed understanding.  The doctors in the hallway were chatting as one asked "which room is she in?" and the response was "the one with that's really 'calm', over there". 

In the end, my daughter was ok, but my relationship with God was forever changed.  Like Timothy, I needed a reminder of who I am, who He is, who is in control, and whom I chose to follow. 'In' or 'out'?   It brought me back to basics.  Complete surrender.

I think that's what Paul is trying to convey to Timothy.  If you died to your self and your life, and you surrendered to Him, you will live with Him v11.  If we endure (some translations use 'suffer'), we will reign with Him  v12.  You wanna bail like the others? Wanna disown Him, that's ok; He will disown you v12.  But know this Timothy,  God is faithful, whether we are or not... He is.

These 'crossroads', test our allegiance. That wasn't my only one, there have been others. This isn't Timothy's only one.  You have them as well... just think back for a moment.   

Jesus said 'in this world you will have tribulation'.. and when we do: 

*Is our life ours or His? 

*Do we just follow when life is comfy? 

*Do you believe this stuff of not?

*Are you in or out?

Our imprisoned brother just gave Timothy examples of commitment... the military, the farmer, the athlete... the sacrifice that comes with being devoted to a purpose.  When you devote your life to Jesus, you follow His plan... you're not your own anymore.  

'In or out'? This is the gospel at the cross roads of life, and the secret lies in our surrender... always in our surrender.  And I promise you, as Paul promises Timothy, He is faithful.... so faithful.