Set Your House in Order

"For I am now ready to be offered, the time of my departure is at hand." (2 Timothy 4:6)

Paul, the teacher, the mentor, the example for Timothy, had given some "last minute" instructions to his young friend in previous verses.  He now tells him why he had done this. Paul knew the time had come for his execution.  He was "being poured out as a drink offering," one translation says.  Paul has given instruction because he knows he won't be around to give it later. This is good advice for the rest of us.

Paul knew his time was near.  Just because we do not know the time of our departure does not mean that we will not leave.  We may not suffer a martyr's death as Paul did, but we will die one day. It could be the result of an accident, natural causes, such as stroke or heart attack, or any number of ways.

We would be wise to heed the words of Isaiah to King Hezekiah of Judah when he said, "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live." (2 Kings 20:1)  Part of "setting your house in order," is first, becoming a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Setting your house in order  includes forgiving others, apologizing to others,  telling your friends and family about how to be saved,  and a host of things that if you knew you would die tonight you would take care of today.