What A Conviction!

2 Timothy 4:18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Conviction is a strong belief. Conviction is a belief that does not change. Conviction is a belief that has been tempted to change but has not changed. Conviction is a demonstration of faith under circumstances where no one expected faith would survive. Conviction is being so sure of something that others wouldn’t risk being sure of. Conviction is about unique beliefs. Believing that the sun will rise is not conviction even if you believe strongly. It is conviction when the belief is on a matter that many others may confess but not demonstrate. Conviction is belief taken to its logical end. Any and every conviction will always stand out.

This second letter to Timothy is believed by many to be the last letter Apostle Paul ever wrote. Paul wrote this letter knowing very well that a decision to have him beheaded had been made. He wrote it knowing he won’t live for long. He wrote this letter being sure that he will never again meet his family or church members and many of his colleagues. Therefore this letter is expected to be sad, maybe full of regret, or even packed with prayers pleading with God to spare his life. All that is not in this letter.

Paul writes that he is so sure that God will save him. Paul writes that he is so sure that God will save him not from some but from every evil attack. He is so sure of God saving him that his fear does not find a place in his final letter to Timothy. What a conviction!

Paul is not hoping to evade the beheading. He is talking of being saved into God’s kingdom. He is sure he will be beheaded because his work on earth is done and it’s time to exit and wait for eternal life.

2 Timothy 4:6
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul is sure he will die and will not evade this death. Actually, he went to Rome knowing that when you appeal to Caesar you eventually die. His aim of appealing to Caesar was to get an opportunity to preach in Rome and to Caesar’s household. Now that he had preached to the people of Rome and Caesar’s household, he is sure his mission on earth is done. He is ready for beheading and God will still save him after the beheading into eternal life. With death beckoning, he remains sure of salvation. What a conviction!

Can we face our worst moments with such a conviction? Can we face failure for the umpteenth time and say, I am sure God will rescue me from every failure? Can we face sickness that refuses to go and say, the Lord will rescue me from every sickness? Can we face rejection and loneliness even as we age and say, the Lord will rescue me from every rejection and loneliness? Conviction defies reality to stay focused on God. What a conviction!

Can you defy the reality of your present reality and stay focused on God? Defying reality is not denying reality. Defying is a refusal to be let down, limited, and frustrated by the present reality. Conviction is looking beyond reality into what God will bring about after this reality. Conviction is trusting God since He can’t be stopped and limited by reality. I am late, but God is not bound by time, so I am sure God will ensure that I am not late. I am late but God will rescue me from every lateness.

Conviction is trusting that God cannot be stopped by what stops me. God cannot be threatened by what threatens me. God cannot be intimidated by what intimidates me. Conviction is believing that nothing is impossible with God. As we face whatever reality today, may our conviction in God come out strong to His own glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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