08 "Life on the Tracks" 2 Timothy 4:9-22

Years ago, I came across a piece of wisdom written by a pastor who had a couple of bestselling books & a thriving mega-church, yet at the very same time his wife was locked in a life or death battle with cancer.  Eventually the ministries of the church reached a global profile yet in the midst of all that success this pastor’s eldest son took his own life.  This pastor who had seen many mountains climbed & yet also lingered in the valley of the shadow of death wrote this.  “I used to think that life was hills & valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back & forth. I don’t believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills & valleys, I believe that it’s more like two rails on a railroad track, at all times you have something good & something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on & no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.”  I think this pastor is quite correct.  We live our life on the tracks.  I have watched families go through the anguish of losing a patriarch & then usher in a beautiful grandchild. I have watched people take off spiritually but struggle vocationally or much more sadly do exactly the reverse.  If you follow gospel workers in Scripture you shall see that there is nothing new under the sun.  Today we are in 2 Timothy 4:9-22.  Grab your Bible, a pen, & download the free sermon outline & accompanying study guide & let's get Washed in the Word!

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