When Paul Is Gone

"When I think about the sincerity you have about this truth, I'm reminded that it was in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice. I charge you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you and do not be afraid to be an example. God has given you power, love, and a sound mind, not the spirit of fear."

"My son, hold fast to what I've taught you and speak sound doctrine. Remember, it is not by any works of righteousness that you have done, but by the mercy of God, the New Birth, and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost."

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ...Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” ~ 1 Timothy 4:12&14

These words echo in the minds of two young men as they sit at their desks. In their hands, they hold letters stating the man who has the biggest impact on their life has just been beheaded. Suddenly, there is an unfillable void inside of them. They feel hopeless as an unbearable sense of responsibility has unexpectedly dropped on their shoulders. They have just lost their mentor, friend, and spiritual father. These two young men, Timothy and Titus, now realize that there will be no more letters, visits, times of prayer, fellowship, or admonition from the Apostle Paul. Their response must be, "It is now up to me to carry this message forward."

If we have not already had this experience, be sure that it is coming, many times over. The weight of an Apostolic giant passing from the scene can be unbearable. What happens when Paul is gone? Will we be prepared for that moment? Can we bear the load when they are not here? Do we have this doctrine in us deep enough we can still hold the same banner they held? We can never fully mentally prepare ourselves for these moments, but we can prepare ourselves spiritually.

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” ~ 2 Timothy 3:13-14

In the short time Paul had to train these young men, he placed a great emphasis on their knowledge and understanding of the doctrine. He would write, "...Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." It was of great importance to Paul that the next generation have a firm grasp on the Apostolic doctrine. He knew there would have to be someone to whom he could pass this on. "Teach no other doctrines. Refuse to focus on the made-up stories of men, they will only cause questions, but learn this Gospel. Some have turned away from it, and what they have turned to is just noise. They want to be big, but they don't even know what they are saying or what they believe."

These were also letters of instruction. The great Apostle did his best to teach them all he could about how to conduct themselves as preachers of the gospel. He would tell them, "Rebuke not an elder, but esteem them as fathers, and the younger as brothers. Treat women with respect. The elder women should be treated as mothers, the younger as sisters in all purity." He would show them how to be humble, "I'm thankful to Christ for he enabled me, he counted me faithful, and put me into this ministry. I did not deserve it, I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious, but God gave me mercy. The purpose of Jesus on the earth was to save sinners, and I am the chief of all."

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." ~ 2 Timothy 4:2-5

When this time comes for my generation of Apostolics, I pray we can stand up and take this mantle. These doctrines, this gospel message, our faith, is all too precious to let any of it get lost in the transition of generations. We must "buy the truth, and sell it not." We must not wait for the generation before us to pass from the scene to begin to fulfill our purpose. We must not sit by and let time slip by! No, we must prepare while Paul is among us for when he is gone!

To the generation of preachers who have preceded mine, I thank you for keeping the standard high, for not throwing in the towel, for not bowing to the pressure of this world, and for blazing the trail. I pray that my generation keeps pushing forward in Jesus’ Name! Let us not be weary in well doing, let us not become impatient while in Paul’s ministerial development course. There will come a time when Paul is gone, and it will be up to us to carry this forward. What will we do then?