The Time of My Departure is at Hand

(2 Timothy 4:6-8)

In this sermon we are going to be looking at some of the words that Paul uses in verse 6. This is a great verse and it is used many times at funerals. But I often wonder just how many of the people that say they are ready truly are ready for this departure.

Key words from the verse:

1) Time (Hebrews 9:27)

• When we really think about it time is a truly had thing to define. Remember God’s time is not measure like our time (Genesis 1:3-5 ; Isaiah 57:15 ; 2 Peter 3:8)
• We often think of time as linear (Use illustration of Past, Present, Future).
• No matter how we think of time we all have an appointment with death as Paul is saying in this verse.

2)  Departure (Genesis 35:18)

• Here we see why Paul used the word departure, at death our soul leaves our body.
• After departing there are only two destinations for the soul. For a lost person, hell (Luke16:23). For a saved person, heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).
• There simply are no other choices.

3)  At Hand (1 Samuel 20:3)

• David said there was but a step between him and death. The truth is we could die at any given moment.
• Using the illustration of linear time from above, that puts everything in the now.

4)  Now Ready

• Paul was ready because he had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was trusting in his finished work for salvation (2 Timothy 1:12 ; Romans 10:9-10)
• The only time to be ready is now in the present, the future may never happen and you cannot go backwards in time.
• The question you must answer is are you ready for your soul to depart from your body, if it happened today what would be its destination?