For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

(16) At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me.  May it not be charged against them. 

(17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.  Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18) And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

The Apostle Paul, imprisoned in Rome and condemned to die, wrote this second letter to this young pastor in the faith who clearly was beloved by Paul.  The verses we study today are intensely personal and we have Paul’s last words.  He knows death is imminent and states with great confidence that the gospel he has preached since his conversion at Damascus is truth.  Paul, in this letter, teaches for the last time that salvation is through God’s grace by faith in Christ rather than man’s good works.  Paul has also emphasized the divine inspiration of the Scriptures.  He encourages Timothy to use his (Paul’s) words, given by God; to keep the faith and run his marathon with his eyes on Christ as the goal.  Paul continues to use the Olympic athletic games as a metaphor for his life and service.  Paul has completed his work for Christ. run his own marathon and the laurel wreath or crown of righteousness is to be his prize.  The last part of verse 8 tells us this same reward awaits all those who have run the Christian race successfully.  Words to live and die by.

Paul’s words were based on an ancient (Old Testament) practice of pouring out wine after sacrifice was offered, to give a pleasing aroma to God and symbolize the offering itself.   The drink offering here was to be Paul’s blood.  Paul is telling Timothy that his life has been a sacrifice to Christ Jesus and now that sacrifice was shortly to be completed – this was a transaction of will, not of sentiment.  Paul is offering his sacrifice in context of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  Service and witness are inseparable in Paul’s writings

Paul tells Timothy that the time of his departure is at hand and this was a very common metaphor for death – Paul clearly thought of his death as entrance into the presence of God.  In his final words Paul was not dreading his “departure” but was being called home for which he longed.  The process of departure has begun.  There is no excitement:  he is matter of face with no affectation of stoicism.  Paul speaks of this very personally to Timothy to give him courage and example. I find it so interesting that Paul’s anticipation of death did not dull his interest in God’s work in this world.  It did not hinder him from pursuing his daily interests and concerns – he directs Timothy about his books and parchments and then the cloak for warmth; movements of his small group of friends immediately follow his words about his impending death.

Life is a series of departures and this is Paul’s last.  Paul is confident that Jesus Christ has abolished death even though the physical portion of it remains.  These words are his last – he is ready to leave this visible and fleeting realm to go home to essential and eternal life.