THE GOOD DEPOSIT ENTRUSTED
Sam C Lock
2 Timothy 4: 1-2, 5-8
I did not know our brother as long as some in this room, but the impression that I have of him is of one who was charged of the Lord to pass on to the next generation what the Lord had given to him. It is interesting that Paul here was conscious that his ministerial service was coming to an end, and there was someone who was to come after him that was to take his place that was being vacated. I felt that our brother was very keen that the generations that would follow him would take up the places that the Lord had in mind for them. Paul knew his place had been assigned to him by one with authority when he says, “I testify before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge living and dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, proclaim the word”. We have already heard about the importance of having a link with the Lord, and you could see that in our brother whom the Lord has taken. He had a real link which was developed over a lifetime through impartations as to the glories of Christ. They were collected up and he would bring them to the meeting occasions and share them with his brethren. And it has impressed me that it was the same with many of the older brethren that the Lord has taken to be with Himself. These are persons who could, as the type suggests, explain to the following generation what the stones meant, as Joshua says to Israel, “When your children hereafter ask their fathers, saying, What mean these stones?”, Josh 4: 21. There was an exercise with those that have gone before to pass things on to the next generation.
I remember our brother gently correcting me in relation to something, and you could see the features of Christ in him. For the Lord’s sake, and a young person’s growth, he would seek to draw alongside in correction but also in encouragement. It is important to encourage; especially in the day in which we live, where there are tests and trials, it is important that there are those who seek to encourage, to build up and to stabilise. We see that feature in the generations that have gone before; they are stable persons.
So Paul says to Timothy here, “be sober in all things, bear evils, do the work of an evangelist, fill up the full measure of thy ministry”. Paul had completed his ministry, and he encourages Timothy to take up the ministry the Lord has charged him with. It is important, dear hearer, that each one feels convicted to serve the Lord in individual responsibility, with something to carry out, something to take forward, something to build up. It is not to be for our own aggrandisement or our own glory, but for the Lord’s glory. What an encouragement it is to know that the testimony goes on from generation to generation. It is encouraging to think that the Lord works through every generation. Every generation has its tests to go through, as it says in the Old Testament, “Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation!”, Exod 17: 16. But every generation will receive the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ; every generation will be affected by the reality of His Person. Are you affected by the reality of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ?
And so there is an encouragement for us to become responsible, to take up the charge that the Lord would leave for each and every one of us. Perhaps sometimes we might feel discouraged, and lay our responsibilities down for a time; well, the Lord has established everything in perfection, and He has made it possible for you to take them back up again. Those who have gone before have experience in this also and they would encourage you to take up your responsibilities again; you would feel the blessing of the Lord in doing so. And as you face the trials and testing, you can go to the Lord and He will give you strength to keep going. It is quite a thing to take up responsibility wondering if you are able. That was what Timothy was worried about, whether he was able for the service that was laid before him. Well, it takes someone who has also known these feelings to encourage and strengthen those currently going through them; as we had in our reading this week, “Stretch out thy hand”, Matt 12: 13. The Lord would charge us to take up our responsibilities for the duration of our wilderness pathway. And so Paul says, “For I am already being poured out, and the time of my release is come. I have combated the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. What a testimony! That is the testimony that can be said of many of our dear brethren. I do not mean to aggrandise our brother but I think it is something that can be said of him, that he kept the faith.
And if there are dear older brethren in advancing years who are wondering why they are not now able to participate in occasions like they did, as a young brother I can say that it is a most stabilising influence to see somebody committed to the Lord regardless of their situation; they serve in what capacity they are able for, a stable influence in the locality. It stabilises you in times of turmoil, chaos and discomfort. As a result Paul says, “Henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me”. What a thought to be occupied with the blessings of Christ.
Towards the latter days of our brother’s life, when he was practically blind and quite weak, on Lord’s day morning he would slowly walk into the room, often helped by his family, and sometimes helped into his chair by one of the brethren. And as the occasion began, he would use what strength he had to sing his heart out in the hymns. Then when we came to the end of the occasion, this aged brother would get to his feet with a smile on his face and you could see the reality of his experience with the Lord that morning. We often talk about the blind man in the gospels, and I do not mean to sound fanciful, but it often struck me that in the present day in which we live there was a blind man who saw the Lord. To see the Lord is a real experience, beloved brethren. Our brother always sought to impress that upon all that were there, that it should be real experience, and it can be for you too. So take up your responsibilities; the Lord is ever faithful to us; what a wonderful Saviour and Person He is. May we be faithful to Him!
For the Lord’s Name’s sake.
Edinburgh
24th April 2023
At the burial meeting for Mr David J Hutson