Famous Last Words

Series on “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

[Many years ago, there used to be articles in the Reader’s Digest titled “I am Joe’s ___” with the blank being filled with a body part or organ. Over the years, I’ve written down verses that are meaningful to me on 3x5 cards. In this series we’ll be looking at some of my favorite verses. In other words, “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses”.]

 

In 1836, Texas was fiercely fighting for its independence from Mexico. That same year, almost 200 men, including Davy Crockett, defended the Alamo. All of them were killed! Following this decimating defeat, General Sam Houston rallied his Texan troops with the battle cry of “Remember the Alamo”!

 

In 1954-55, there was a Walt Disney miniseries called Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier. Fess Parker starred as Davy Crockett and wore a coonskin cap. To be like my hero, I had to have one. Once I did, I proudly wore it around the house. For a five-year-old boy, Davy Crockett was synonymous with “Remember the Alamo”. 

 

In 64 A.D., a fire devastated Rome. Nero blamed the Christians. As a result, they were persecuted by all the Romans, but particularly by Nero. According to the historian Tacitus, Nero used Christians as torches, burning them alive to light his gardens at night. He also fed them to wild animals for public entertainment.

 

In the wake of Nero’s persecution, Paul was arrested and put in prison like a common criminal. An archaeological description of similar prisons is: “a cold, damp cistern-like cell with iron rings for chaining prisoners”. Typically, it was where you went before you were executed.

 

Even though his life was almost over, and all but Luke had deserted him, Paul continued to minister to others. It was during this time that he wrote to Timothy who had been his coworker in the ministry as well as his spiritual son and currently was ministering in Ephesus.

 

After reminding Timothy about the authority of Scripture, that it is “God breathed” and “equips his people to do every good work”, Paul charged him to continue the ministry no matter what.

 

² Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. ⁵ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.      NLT

 

Following this, Paul becomes introspective, looking back on thirty years of ministry as an apostle of Christ. Knowing that he will soon die, he makes this statement in what will be his final letter. His “famous last words”, if you will.

 

⁶ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ^8a And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness...           NLT

 

Before going into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. As he emerged from the river, he heard these words from his Heavenly Father.

 

¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”        NIV    Matthew 3

 

No doubt Paul heard these words when he received the crown of righteousness. They are the same “famous last words” that I hope to hear.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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Coaches! Who needs ‘em!

2 Timothy 3:1-2, 10-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203%3A1-2%2C%202%20Timothy%203%3A10-17&version=NIV;NLT

 

My experience with high school coaches was not very positive. First off, they always called you by your last name. They couldn’t say Joe; it had to be “Hey Williams”. It wasn’t very friendly. Secondly, they always yelled at you like you had committed the worst unpardonable sin; as if there was something wrong with you personally.

 

I remember one football practice when I was blocking a defender and the running back ran into me. The coach yelled, “WILLIAMS! WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU!!!” My thought was, “What about the running back. Couldn’t he have run around me instead of into me? Why don’t you yell at him”?  But, like I said, it was a “thought”.

 

My coaches were never encouraging. Their instructions were always negative; putting you down; saying what was wrong with you. To make things worse, they did this not just to you privately, but in front of the whole team; all of my peers that I wanted to impress... Coaches! Who needs ‘em!

 

However, Paul was Timothy’s coach. He wrote 2 Timothy while in prison, knowing that his time on earth was short. He wanted to instruct and encourage Timothy in his faith. Here’s what he wrote to his “dear son” in the faith.

 

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet

the Lord rescued me from all of them.

 

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.     NIV

 

Paul was preparing Timothy for ministry by instructing him, in the context of their relationship, while living out his life before him. Granted, scripture is to be used, not just for teaching and encouragement, but also “rebuking and correcting”. But Paul makes the point that this is done in the context of a loving, patient relationship with an eye towards the Lord.

 

Coaches! Who needs ‘em! We do! Life is full of pit falls, hardships and struggles. You can’t avoid them. How you handle your struggles is what makes the difference. How do you learn from those problems? How do you grow? Who helps you?

 

Scripture tells us that God disciplines those He loves. He does this through, scripture, relationships and life experiences… even coaches. The struggles of life often provide the greatest opportunity for us to strengthen our faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Hopefully, each one of us will be able to give everything that we have; leave it all out on the field of life; give 110%; and to be able to say with Paul:

 

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.    2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

 

 

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