Paul and the Three Musketeers (2 Timothy 1)

Are we people of action?

So last night I broke down and went to see the new Three Musketeers movie. I spent the day studying the book of Acts and was so impressed by the sense of boldness the apostles had in those stories, I wanted to watch something full of courage and action. I was not disappointed. D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis where full of both. I have been reading the book as well by Dumas. It is impressive to me the way these characters stop at nothing. They just keep going until the task is accomplished or they have been wounded trying. In the book in fact they are all wounded trying. On one of the first adventures to England to retrieve the diamonds from Buckingham first Porthos is wounded, then Aramis is taken in, and finally Athos barricades himself in the cellar to escape those after his life. And yet D'Artagnan rides on, wounds a man in his way and gets to Buckingham and back to Paris with the newly set diamonds in his hand. (A little different from the movie.)

Paul is the same way. He stops at nothing! In 2nd Timothy chap 1 says three times we are not to be ashamed. First to Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel, then not to be ashamed of him in chains and then once again commending those who have been in support of him as he is in chains they have not been ashamed of him. Most scholars recognize 2nd Timothy as Paul's last recorded letter. He has come to the end of his life and thus the end of his ministry. What is it that has placed Paul in these chains at the end of his life? His bold hope in the Resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that he was the messiah all Israel had been waiting for. When confronted by the Jews in Jerusalem Paul exclaims he has been arrested for his belief in the resurrection. Now for one this causes a big argument between the Pharisees who believe in resurrection and the Sadducees who do not. But it is the truth. Paul has put his hope in this Christ, this hope of Israel, this Jesus. The resurrection is the proof of his hope.

Interestingly enough the resurrection is our source of hope as well. Jesus' raising from the dead is the proof the resurrection in the end will come. Not only that, Paul also tells us the resurrection power is available to us today.

I can tell you, I need the resurrection today. I need new life from the spirit flowing into my body and soul today. It is only hope that sustains us some days and with out an anchor for this hope we would be lost. We the anchor however we can move forward boldly and unashamed!

What would it really look like to live our Christianity unashamedly? How would it change the life we live today? Would we with the boldness of the Musketeers leap and hurl ourselves into whatever danger and obstacle might come in order to accomplish our mission? What would it look like to never give up, never surrender for the sake of the gospel. I have a feeling it would look and awful lot like Paul and Jesus before him.

May the hope of the resurrection push us forward today is my prayer and the power of the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, sustain us as we do.