2 Timothy 4:16-22
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

This is really Paul’s final message, his final testimony for his life as his death draws nigh. Yes, many people helped and enabled. Yes, many stood with him and were dear to him. But in the end, it was always the Lord who Paul could count on. If he had no one else, he always had Jesus, and that was enough. These names represent fellow laborers added along the way, but Jesus never leaves nor forsakes. Jesus is there from the beginning and there for the duration. And Paul wants Timothy to understand that for the days when he would stand alone and for the times when friends would forsake and foes would hinder.

“The Lord shall,” says Paul, and that is where our hope and assurance can be found, as well, whether we’re bearing the burden of ministry as Timothy was or simply serving the Lord in our local church as a faithful believer in Christ. Paul would no longer be a resource for Timothy to draw upon for strength, wisdom, encouragement, or exhortation. But Timothy could always depend on God through all the stages of his life, as he had seen Paul do in times of trial and triumph.

God often sends people to come alongside us at various times in our lives. Paul had many of them, and doubtless so did Timothy. But people don’t live forever, or sometimes circumstances can take them away from us. But the Lord is ever with us to strengthen and help us in our most solitary moments. He enables us in our calling. He allows His work to go forward. May we appreciate the fellow laborers who come alongside as we serve together, but may we never forget the one we can rely on all the days of our lives.