For Every No

There is a verse of scripture and its far from ordinary. It is different in its comparison to most others. It is perhaps never looked at. Why would it? For It has no promise of blessing. There is no promised miracle that appears from it.  Really just the opposite. It perhaps creates question rather than gives answer.

This word that GOD breathed and gave inspiration to. After all, while it may be out of the way and hard to understand. We cannot just throw it away. We cannot and must not discard it as though it has no value to it. Yet, how strange it is. This we know, it is the word of GOD. And that should suffice.

2 Tim 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.    KJV

Paul in his last letter he would write. This before his life would end at the hands of Nero. Paul I can understand, would want to greet and say goodbye to his friends. No doubt, we would be the same if we knew that our last breath was about to be taken from us, as Paul’s was. We would absolutely want to bid our farewells. Give our love. And of course, encourage those; if we like Paul were forced to our death.

So, this is stated as such in Paul’s last book, in three verses from the end of the last chapter. Paul with and with his days, hours and minutes winding down. He did what I believe what we all would want to do. That is to have a chance to pray and to remember and express our love in our end.  

This is Paul’s day. He’s in prison. His eyes are now dim. His health has and is deteriorating by the day. He knows what’s ahead of him. We can know Paul has made his calling and election sure and he is ready to depart and be with Christ. He is actually looking forward to what is in front of him.

So, I pull this verse out of Paul’s last chapter of his last and final letter and point out his last words. Yes, he mentions many names, but only one mentioned does he give us a glimpse of. Trophimus. Three times mentioned… Acts 20:4 and Acts 21:29 and yes, here in this letter to Timothy.

What we know of this one man is vague. Yet, we know some. He is an Ephesian. He is a gentile believer. He has obeyed the gospel. He has and is a fellow laborer in the kingdom of GOD. He was no doubt converted in a day that Paul preached. A day and time when Asia minor, was turned upside down. There was this man who was most likely a worshipper of idols. It was he through the preaching of the word of GOD. Perhaps even Paul’s preaching, decided to put away the goddess Diana. He concluded; that Emperor worship, and the worship of Greek gods and goddesses was false and error. Trophimus came to know through the preached word of GOD these idols were not the one true GOD.

And the astounding word for this man of faith that Paul knows and has labored beside is this description that Paul with anointing and with wisdom states… (I LEFT TROPHIMUS AT MILETUM SICK.)

Paul the healer. The one whose shadow and garment when touched gave healing and deliverance to so many. Even devils trembled. The devils even confessed that they knew Paul. The world in his day and time knew Paul. People of renown knew Paul. King Agrippa, Felix the governor. Paul wasn’t a stranger to miracles, signs and wonders. In fact, they followed him. Paul was known by them. That is save this one particular day. Trophimus was left behind. Paul had to go on without him.

Surely Paul prayed for him. Would he not? His friend, and fellow servant in the gospel. Probably like Timothy a son in the LORD. Paul would not leave his side unless necessary. Do you think that Trophimus made the prayer list at church? How sick was he? Sick enough he couldn’t go on. Sick enough that we never hear of him again. Did he die? Was Trophimus’ sickness unto death? We don’t know. What we do know is this. GOD said no. No, to this man who did his savior’s work. No, to his deliverance. No, to his healing. Never a miracle recorded in the behalf of this sickness that had invaded the body of a precious brother in the LORD.

Paul along with the faith of Trophimus and the church on that day was denied by heaven. NOPE; NOT TODAY!!!

Paul who was told yes, so many times before. He healed many. That is yes. He was delivered from snake bite, from shipwreck, from stoning, from cold and nakedness. These and more Paul had received the yes of heaven. But this verse sandwiched among all his epistles. Paul here; is told no.

I know Paul was told no before. He prayed not once or twice but three times over a thorn that caused him much pain and suffering. A thorn that GOD had evidently ignored. GOD never addressed it. That is until Paul kept praying about it. Even then the word that Paul so desperately wanted to hear was denied him. No, No, and No and the word Paul did hear was “my grace is sufficient for thee.” That I believe, we can conclude was not the word that Paul was praying or hoping to hear.

Paul went on. Paul resigned. Paul said ok GOD. “You know what’s best for me.” Paul was told no, no and no. And Paul said, its time for me to move on and pray for others and other things. And Paul lets us know. I left my friend. I had to leave my fellow soldier behind. I had to leave my brother.

Did Paul ever see him again? Its doubtful that he did.

I know there are so many today and they are praying and praying. Loved ones have cancer. Loved ones lost. Loved ones hurting. Life has showed up and has reminded us that life can be so full of sorrow. Tears seem to be your only friend. And like Paul saying bye to friend or friends. Often, we like Paul. Say goodbye to those in this life we never see again.

How could Paul go on? Very easy when Paul could look around and see more yes’s and more blessings and greater things in GOD than the no’s that he was given.

What I am saying is this. All of us are going to hear a no from heaven some point and time. And there will be a demand on you and I in how we respond to that no.

·        Will it be bitterness?

·        Will it be quitting?

·        Will it be I’m tired of this?

·        Will it be blame placed on another? Somebody else’s fault?

·        Will it be I want it to end, and I don’t care how?

All I say is this. There is a yes from GOD that is greater than HIS no.

·        Yes, I can be forgiven.

·        Yes, I can be delivered.

·        Yes, I can make it because I have made it before. (HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.)

·        Yes, I have received HIS Spirit. Yes, HE loves me this I know.

There is a guarantee. Yes, it is, its absolutely true. There is sorrow and much of it. But don’t forget while the NO, may be there. There is another yes from heaven on the way.

Ps 30:5 …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.    KJV

Paul, Trophimus the answer is no. Keep looking though. Don’t get high centered on the no. There is a yes in the way.

·        Joseph’s dream… But his brothers said no.

·        Joseph’s dream… But the pit said no.

·        Josephs dream… But the Midianites said no.

·        Joseph’s dream… But Potiphar’s wife said no.

·        Joseph’s dream… And the prison shouted no.

·        Joseph’s dream… And No says your forgotten Joseph.

·        Joseph’s dream… And the palace said yes…

·        Joseph’s dream… And his brethren said yes…

·        Joseph’s dream… And Jacob (dad) said yes.

·        Joseph’s dream… And heaven says, didn’t I say yes before you heard all the no’s?

LOOK AROUND HE IS SAYING YES… FOR EVERY NO IN HIS RESPONSE HERE… I BELIEVE HE IS SAYING YES OVER THERE.

Thank you for reading… May GOD bless you.