Overcoming

2 Timothy 4:6-18 
  English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.

⁹ Do your best to come to me soon. ¹⁰ For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. ¹²  Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. ¹⁴  Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. ¹⁶ At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!  

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.




Two vivid analogies. Water poured out and finished, not to be replaced. A race is one once. It is difficult to know which direction to go in some days.  

I had a time in life where decisions were to be made. With youthful glee I accepted like an arrow shot - an offer from my Texas A&M roommate, who was a graduate Veterinarian student, to help her feed the lioness Delilah. I loved all the "Born Free" movies. I looked forward all day to seeing Elsa. And as we got in the car, I found out all the 400 plus Vet students declined, only two would volunteer to feed Delilah. Delilah was being experimented upon to see if they could impregnate her artificially and then remove the embryo to see if it would freeze. So far, not. So I learned. Delilah was 350 lbs of angry. And my roommate saw in my face, now the situation was calling for a reverse of direction.
 
I did one of the most stupid things I've ever done. When we arrived at the Vet professor's home, Delilah was stealthily stalking in the cage, about 20" x 40", where she was deciding she Would eat the 3 labs who were probably young, but they were running back and forth  either annoying or playing with Delilah. The Vet student, who was other 'second', was visibly worried about the mayhem. She greeted us with, "The dogs escaped and I cannot get them back to the Professor's house and he isn't home." I asked if they played like this often. I was informed it was a bad thing when it happened. Then I was warmly congratulated by both Vet students on my bravery.  I knew I was getting in the cage. I was then informed, one always stood outside to call the Professor for help if there was trouble. They suggested we begin. And I said no. We were going to put the 3 of us to work and get the dogs out of the path until the lioness calmed down. It was greeted, with, "Good Plan."

That done, we waited for a time for Delilah to quit pacing. And my roommate turned to me and said, "She does weigh 350 pounds and if she knocks you down, you need to yell, 'NO, Delilah' and hit her in the eye. And say it forcefully."  I was then told. Delilah had not knocked anyone down, her teeth were filed evenly and she was de-clawed. Then my roommate smiled rather evilly and said her jaws were a powerful enough pressure to crack a skull. I don't think my friend liked the look I gave her.  At that point she sorta punched me in the arm and said, "Well." 

So. She graciously lets me go first. And Delilah ran to the other side of the cage. Whew. No. Delilah was picking up speed. I flew to my back as she hit and was surprised to find I was screaming and punching in the eye, with a very firm voice all that had been taught to me. I was alone in the cage with Delilah. Evidently Delilah decided almost immediately she was sorry. I fed Delilah and got to pet her. My t-shirt had the great marks of Lion Paws on it. My roommate never got in the cage that day. She was tearful and apologetic. And she let me know I got to touch Delilah more than she ever had.

So. Something young and foolish. Became something that from time to time sustains me. But I declined to return to Delilah. Although I really do love the Narnia books and movies.


So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
 

Psalm 7:2

lest they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me

Isaiah 11:6

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

Deuteronomy 33:20

Of Gad he said, A blessing be on him who makes wide the limits of Gad: he takes his rest like a she-lion, taking for himself the arm and the crown of the head

Zechariah 13:9 
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Father God, it is You who sustains us in Your plans each day. Let's be grateful for survival. Give us the day. In the name of Jesus, who is the LORD my God. And yours. Amen.

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