The brighter the sun, the darker the shadow
Some thoughts on the most recent bill to be voted on in Holyrood (Scottish Parliament).
As I write this, Holyrood has voted to move forward to the next step with the Assisted Dying For Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Though we have been enjoying many days of sunshine and warm weather, this has truly brought a darkening to this land. On Sunday, at church, we welcomed a guest preacher named Stuart Weir from CARE for Scotland. He told us the better story of Jesus bringing life and healing to a man who had been ill for a very long time. He told us of the death of his father in the hospice down the road from our church building.
We sang together of surrender to Jesus, to his way, to his plans, to his rule.
In asking Timothy to endure suffering with him, Paul makes his appeal by calling to mind the life and work of Jesus.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.1
It is easy to see why one who is facing suffering might be tempted to give up and give in. Nobody likes to experience pain. But it’s also tempting to give, to lose heart, when it seems like the enemy is winning. When there’s another new thing that you can’t really talk about at work. When our government representatives vote in favour of things which will ultimately threaten human life.
I write this knowing that this bill is very likely to one day be passed as law. Proposed legislation passing Stage One inevitably leads down that road. Yet, Paul does not leave us with the option of remaining hopeless or resigned to this fact.
But the word of God is not bound!
Here in Scotland, the gospel is not being stopped. At our church, we will soon be celebrating five baptisms. That means that God’s word is still at work. It means that the Holy Spirit is still being poured out upon God’s people, bringing life to dead souls.
We can continue to live according to the better way of Jesus. There is no law preventing us from loving our neighbours, from being a community that cares for one another, our sick and dying in particular.
And we can continue to speak. We can still tell a better story, whether it is in our pulpits or around our dinner tables or the coffee shop or the pub.
It does make me wonder if Paul writes these things to remind himself. To help himself continue to endure as he awaits Timothy’s arrival.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, p. 2 Ti 2:8–13.