mind. I couldn't afford to laps and start to think like a carnal man. I had to have the same thought patterns in me, as they were in Christ Jesus also. I was determined to resist the devil steadfastly as he parades himself all over the world like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Having done all to stand, I stood against him girded and clothed with all of God's armour. I had put on all of God's armour and stood firm during that vile battle against the darkness.
The sound of my chains inspired me greatly. They were a reminder that I was a bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was chained to Him for His divine purpose. "I am crucified with Him. I am buried with Him and I am raised to newness of life with Him," I boldly proclaimed to the forces of darkness. When Christ died, I died. When He was raised from the dead, I was raised with Him to this new life. Christ, the Messiah living in me and through me. This was the foundation of my faith and my deep spiritual conviction. I believed that Christ died upon the cross for my sins. I believed that His lifeless body was buried and laid in a tomb. I believed that after three days He rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures.
I was not in chains alone. My chains were shared with Christ, the Messiah. I always carry around in my body the death of the Lord Jesus Christ like these chains. So that the life of the Lord Jesus Christ might be made manifest in me. I was chained to Christ. I was chained to His Death, His burial and His resurrection. He was chained to me and together we had become one. I knew that this was the end, my end. I wasn't going to get to see another day. I wasn't going to get to see another sunrise or sunset. I wasn't going to get another chance to preach a sermon about the Lord Jesus Christ. I wasn't going to get a chance to write another letter to His beloved church, His bride.
I refused to become a prisoner in my mind and think dark thoughts. I was a child of the light and I was going to think like a child of the light. I had the mind of Christ and I was going to continue to think God's thoughts. There was a reason that I was in these chains and I wasn't going to allow the darkness to destroy my soul. My hands and feet were held captive by these steel chains but I wasn't going to allow my mind to become captive to demonic chains.
I was cold to my core. Another winter was on its way and I could feel it in my bones. My hands shook and my body trembled. I felt the cold early this year. "I must be getting old," I thought to myself. I had written a second letter to Timothy instructing him to come quickly, "The warm coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring it with you, and bring the books, especially the parchments, those precious parchments that I hold so dear."
The precious words of the Lord Jesus Christ were on those parchments. Treasured words that were handed down to me, that I had diligently recorded. In my heart of hearts I was yearning to see him again. There was no one like Timothy in all the world. He had served me faithfully for many years. I had raised him as a spiritual son and he never once abandoned me. I had poured my heart and soul into him. I requested in my letter to him, "Find John Mark and bring him with you when you come. For he is very helpful to me in the ministry."
I felt alone for the first time in my life. Yet I refused to become discouraged. I had run my race and I had run it with perseverance. I would not bow to the idea of becoming weary. I swallowed my own words not to become weary in doing good, for in due season I will reap a reward. My reward was waiting for me, an eternal weight in glory to be worn as a crown of righteousness. I am now ready to be poured out as an offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me on that day.
The Messiah was right about me on the day when He first apprehended me. I did suffer many things for His name sake. I suffered immensely. My own fellow countrymen beat me out of jealousy, five times I received forty stripes less one from them. The Gentiles beat me when I interfered with their financial gain. I was imprisoned, beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked four times. A night and a day I spent in the deep waters of the sea. I was attacked in Jerusalem. Strung up and flogged again. I am talking like one beside himself. Being imprisoned often, suffered more beatings, being near death over and over again. In my many travels I had been exposed to danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the desert, danger at sea, danger from false brothers. I had toiled and endured hardships, often not had enough sleep, being hungry and thirsty, frequently gone without food, being cold and naked.
We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, yet not in despair, persecuted, yet not abandoned. Knocked down, yet not destroyed. Let us boast in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that hardships produce patience and endurance. And endurance develops maturity of character. Even unto this present hour I have gone both hungry, and thirsty. I am naked, and roughly knocked about, and have no certain dwelling place. Come quickly Timothy. Carry my torch. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Carry me home. Maranatha, our Lord come. Today I will face my executioners. Today I will die. I will return to the dust from whence I came. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust. But I will never allow that dusty nature, the fleshly nature to cling to me. I am dead to sin and dead to the world.
Suddenly I was blinded by a Roman soldiers flaming torch. I could not see as the light blinded my eyes. I had been in darkness for so long that been exposed to the smallest of light had blinded me. The jail door opened. There appeared before me two giant shadows. I could recognise the one by just looking at his silhouette, the other was John Mark. My heart leapt for joy and almost skipped a beat when I saw them. John Mark came! The other was Timothy, my son. He had my warm coat and the parchments. I was no longer alone. I was surrounded by loyal friends. I instructed Timothy, saying, "Endure hardships and suffering, as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. Hold fast the teachings that you have heard from me in all faith and love. Fan into flames, stir up the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."
"Greetings citizen," echoed a voice behind me that I knew so very well. It was Cassius. We embraced and hugged one another as I replied, "Shalom citizen." It had been five years since we had last seen each other. He was dressed in full armour as if ready for battle. I shared with him my new travels, to Spain, Ephesus, Colosse, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Nicopolis and Greece. We laughed together and he smiled. He was full of Joy. He told me about the Great fires in Rome and how Christians were viciously martyred and put to death by the Emperor, Nero. I told him how I was arrested and brought back to Rome. We sat together in silence for a moment and we wept together. We both knew that it was my end. I took my warm coat that Timothy had brought with him and wrapped it around Cassius as a token that he was to carry my mantle.
Then Cassius stood to his feet and led me out of the dungeon. I was bound in my chains to face the executioner. He fastened me to the post and positioned my head upon the block. "Greetings citizen, I will see you on the other side," he whispered. "Shalom citizen, may nothing be missing and nothing be broken in your soul," I replied, "I see the light, the light of the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Its coming to fetch me and capture me in glory." Cassius also saw that bright light, shinning brighter than the midday sun, coming to fetch me. "I see the Light, I see the Light," he cried, "I see the Light!"
In the end, I loved Him, I love Him deeply with all my heart, this Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God became my closest friend. He was with me on my journeys all the time. He was my personal Praetorian Guard. He never left me alone nor forsook me for a single moment. He was indeed a God that sticks closer than a brother.
I am Paul, the chief of sinners. Run your race. The race set before you. Walk in love. Keep the faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to life everlasting.
Grace be with you all. Amen, so be it.
The End.
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God's richest blessings.
Tim Green.
Christian Author and Speaker.
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If you want to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour then please pray this simple prayer.
Prayer:
I believe that Jesus Christ died upon the Cross for my sins. That He was punished and put to death in my place. I believe that Jesus Christ was buried and laid in a tomb. I believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day, just as He said and according to the Scriptures.
Father God, forgive me of all my sins and for my