“If we endure, we will reign with Him” (2Tim 2:12).
I don’t know about you, but always I’m looking for a shortcut. A quick fix. A short line at checkout. A cheat code. Something tells me we ALL are! That’s why we continually sucked in to get-rich-quick schemes on late night TV infomercials. We desperately want that magic pill that promises instant six-pack abs. Searching for a silver bullet. Praying for a fast pass at Disney World. Hoping for the easy button.
Well, if you’ve opened 2nd Timothy expecting to press the easy button, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Hey, if ANYBODY needed (or deserved!) a cheat code, it’s the Apostle Paul. The last few years have been gauntlet of pain and suffering for His Savior (2Cor 11:23-27). Check it out. Jail. Beatings. Near death experiences. Scourging. Caning. Stoning. Not one, not two, but THREE shipwrecks. Danger. Threats. Contracts on his life. Days with no sleep, no food, and no water. Freezing temps without a coat. Blistering heat with no AC.
Let’s face it, a contestant on American Ninja Warrior has nothing on the spiritual obstacle course Paul has run. As he writes to his protege Timothy, he’s nearing the finish line (2Tim 4:6-7). He’s locked up on Death Row inside Rome’s brutal Mamertine Prison. Historians say this joint was nothing more than a hole in the ground where prisoners wait to die.
As he counts down his final days, the apostle pleads with his young friend to make one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). Just in case Tim can’t make it in time, Paul scribbles down last minute instructions to keep the viral message of Jesus spreading throughout the world (2Tim 2:1-4:5).
When we come to 2nd Timothy 2:11-13, it just looks different. That’s because it IS different. Most people who look into these things believe these are the lyrics to a first century worship tune. To this day, folks with drop a line from a song to make a point. Same thing going here. It points to the power of music. Paul makes the point that these particular lyrics are “trustworthy” (2Tim 2:11). That’s because when you combine a memorable melody with God’s truth, look out!
While we don’t have the sheet music, the words are raw and real. Think of it as blues. Like the rest of Scripture, this song describes who God is. In this case, it’s the Second Person of the Godhead, Christ Jesus (2Tim 2:10). First of all, we read that when we share in His substitutionary death for our sin, we will certainly share in His incredible resurrection life as well (2Tim 2:11). It’s a matter of life THROUGH death. In other words, hint number one that there’s no easy pass when it comes to following Jesus.
Just to make sure we’re paying attention, Paul doubles down on this idea of delayed gratification. “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (v12). Hey, I’m all about the second part! But to get to the very cool reigning part, I must endure. There’s no traffic-free, four-lane bypass. I must drive the hard road with potholes galore.
Paul uses the Greek word the ESV translates as “endure” (Gr. ‘υπομενω) which basically means to remain behind under persecution or stay when others leave. It’s a compound verb that literally means “under (‘υπο-) living (-μενω).” It’s the picture of hang in there under pressure with relentless submission. The apostle only uses it a grand total of four times and two of them are here in this little letter.
It’s refusing to flee. Standing your ground. Pressing on. Staying the course. Going the distance. Bearing up bravely. Folks watch life crashing down you and scratch their heads, “What in the world are you still doing here?” Call it the wonder of being under. It’s strength we only get from Jesus.
Let’s take a moment to describe what Paul is NOT talking about. These are NOT first world problems. It’s NOT losing the remote. It’s NOT the lack of wifi. It’s NOT too much milk in my macchiato. You do realize these are only inconveniences, right? Right?!?
He’s also NOT talking about your coworkers grumbling about Christians or the removal of the nativity scene from the courthouse lawn. Here’s the deal. These are the realities of living in a post-Christian culture. We don’t need to endure this stuff. Quite your whining and pull up your big boy pants. Instead let’s be a blessing to our community, our state, our nation, and our world. Jesus calls us to shine His light and spread His salt. I don’t remember reading anything about boycotting amusement parks. I’m pretty sure that spreading hate has NOTHING to do with spreading the Gospel.
On the end of the spectrum, don’t fall for the lie that trusting in Jesus exempts believers from a hard life. As a matter of fact, just the opposite. Over and over, Christ warns His crew that following Him is not going to be a life full of rainbows, unicorns, and an endless supply of Skittles. “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (Jn 15:20).
So many of us love latching onto God’s promises in Scripture. Why doesn’t anyone ever claim this one Jesus said to His closest followers? “In the world you will have tribulation” (Jn 16:33). Just because we don’t like it doesn’t make it any less true. Take a look around and see if the Lord’s promise hasn’t come true in spades. Of course it has. But don’t forget what He had to say right after that. “But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
In one of their more embarrassing moments, the disciples get into a shouting match about who’s got the most game. This is another example of why the Bible could not be some sort of fabrication or heavy edited version of truth. If I’m one of the apostles in charge of what goes in and what goes out of the New Testament, this story gets left on the cutting room floor! Jesus drops the mic on their stupid argument by saying the place of greatness in God’s kingdom only goes to those who stick it out during the hard times and serve others (Lk 22:24-30).
John MacArthur writes that Jesus’ disciples who persevere prove their trust in Him is legit. Folks who punk out when times get hard have a phony faith. Our Savior says we’ll know for sure we’re His because we have faith to run the marathon of life (Mt 10:22; Mt 24:13).
But Christ doesn’t call us to some sort of weird masochism. His followers aren’t simply just to live out our lives here on Earth as easy targets and punching bags. It’s not pain and suffering just for the sake of more pain and suffering. Paul let's us know there's reign in the forecast. He encourages us to hang in there because “we will also reign with Him” (v12). Don’t give up. It will all be worth it. WAY worth it. God guarantees that our submission is followed by sovereignty. We suffer under the world now and we reign over it later.
Think of endurance and reigning like college classes. You have to take Endurance 101 as a prerequisite for Reigning 501. I have to get my undergrad from the School of Hard Knocks before pursuing my doctorate from the Kings College of Ruling and Reigning. In his letter to Roman believers, the apostle lets us know that we only experience ultimate glory with Jesus later if we’re willing to suffer with Him in the here and now (Rom 8:17). They go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
The phrase “reign with Him” is actually just one word in the original language: συμβασιλευω. It means to rule together with someone else, ascend to the throne together, or live together like royalty. It’s ultimately exercising the highest influence together. The verb comes from a root word meaning walking over something. After getting stepped on together because of Jesus, we eventually step over together with Jesus.
Here’s where it’s a good idea to read the end of the Book. SPOILER ALERT! Christ wins!! And because He wins, those who trust in Him do. After He wins, He reigns and we reign with Him. The resurrected Jesus pulls back the curtain of heaven for His buddy John. One of the things the apostle experiences is a magnificent new song about how our He died so that God’s people could take a seat next to the King of Kings (Rev 5:10).
You see, my relationship with Christ is WAY more than simply being rescued from the self-inflicted wound of my own sin! As if that’s not enough, Jesus invites us to join Him on the throne in His future eternal kingdom (Rev 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-5). What does that look like? I’m not exactly sure. We only know from the glimpses we get when God allows the writers of the NT a peak behind the eternal curtain. But you can be sure it’s worth it. WAY worth it.
While there’s no easy button when it comes to following Jesus, salvation is a completely different story. We can’t save ourselves through hard work. The bar is too high. We can’t meet God’s perfect standard of holiness and spotless obedience to His rules and regs. Only Christ did that. We trust in what He did for us that we could never do for ourselves. The Lord lived the perfect life I failed to live. He died the death for my sin I should have died. He rose to a new life I don’t deserve. Jesus did all the heavy lifting. He endured what I never could. I simply rest on His work on my behalf and keep my eyes locked on Him while run the race (Heb 12:1-2).
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