As many will recognize, the above quotation comes from 2 Timothy 3:1414But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Timothy 3:14), Paul’s last epistle, just before he was martyred for the name of Christ. In the earlier part of the chapter, he has described the state of Christendom in the last days—days that he characterizes as “perilous times.” The conditions depicted in verses 1-8 are not those of the heathen world; rather, they are what has become of that which professes to know Christ and to bear His name. This state of things had already begun before the apostles were taken home to be with the Lord, and thus we have ministry and instruction for the days in which we live.
A Race of Endurance and Patience
In spite of the declension around him and the ominous prophecy that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse” (2 Tim. 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)), Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is to “continue in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of” (vs. 14). The Christian pathway is a race, but it is not merely a 100-meter dash; rather, it is a marathon, where endurance and patience are needed. Above all, it is important to continue steadfast to the end. Paul himself recognized this, and he expressed the wish that he might “finish my course, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) JND). Later, in this same book of 2 Timothy, he could say, “I have combated the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:77I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7) JND). (The word translated “course” and “race” are the same in the original Greek.)
Even the world recognizes that endurance to the end in that which is right is a laudable thing. As far back as the sixteenth century, the well-known British sea captain Sir Francis Drake used to pray these words: “O Lord God, when Thou givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter, give us also to know that it is not the beginning but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished that yieldeth the true glory.” In spite of his practice of attacking and plundering Spanish merchant vessels, it is possible that he had faith: The Lord knows. Other examples could be cited of those who persevered in that which had taken hold of them and finished it in spite of difficulties.
Our Walk
For the believer in these last days, there is a special need to continue in what we have been given. Sad to say, there are too many who start out well in the Christian pathway, but then decide that it is too hard. They may not turn away from Christianity, but rather from a pathway of faithfulness to the Lord, in what they have “learned” and perhaps have even been “assured of.” To learn something is to hear it, or read it. In Timothy’s case, he was well versed in the Holy Scriptures from his younger years, because of the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother. Also, he had learned much from Paul, no doubt verbally, concerning the truth of the assembly. However, to be assured of something in a scriptural way is to have walked in it. Only as we walk in what we have heard can we really have it as our own. Before we have walked in what we know, we are among those who “seem” to have it—see Luke 8:1818Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18). What we seem to have will be taken away from us eventually, if we do not walk in it.
Paul’s Teaching and Lifestyle
Paul knew from experience about this, for he could say in 2 Timothy 1:1515This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:15) that “all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.” They were still Christians, but Paul’s doctrine was not something they wanted. A broader path attracted them, with more respect from the world; the kind of teaching and lifestyle that made a man a despised prisoner did not suit them.
So it is today. In these last days God has seen fit to restore to us the precious truth of the assembly—truth that had been lost, at least to the church collectively, for hundreds of years. But now, at the end of the dispensation, God has recovered it to us. Many are aware of it, have heard it, and even walked in it. Are we willing to continue in it?
It is easy to continue when things are going well—when the testimony is bright, when the work of the Lord is expanding, when there is plentiful blessing in the gospel, and good ministry for believers. However, Satan is always ready to attack that which honors Christ, and it is then that the test comes. Will we continue in the face of misunderstandings, strife and trials within the house of God? Reproach and persecution from the world are bad enough, but it is harder to bear that which comes from within. No doubt Paul himself felt keenly the rejection by those to whom he had ministered some of the highest truth ever given to man. Yet he continued on, and he exhorted Timothy to do the same.
The Finish
God values those who finish the race. Although in one sense every true believer will finish the race, yet God places a high premium on those who are faithful to the end, in what has been committed to them. What is committed to us may not be the same for all believers, for God takes account of the light given to us. Of course, God’s purpose is for “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:44Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)). However, we live in a day when the church outwardly is in a broken and divided state. As a result, there are varying degrees of light and understanding among those who compose the true church. Those who have more light are more responsible, just as others with less light will be held accountable only for what they have been given.
These last days are indeed perilous, as we have already noted, and as we approach closer to the end, things will get worse, not better. Yet God has promised the needed grace for whatever He sends, and He will never give us truth in His Word without making it possible for us to carry it out. Paul was faithful to the end, as was our real example, our Lord Jesus Christ. We too can press on without fear, knowing that the reward for faithfulness is ultimately in the glory, not down here.
W. J. Prost