1Ti 6:13-16 “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
Paul is blessed to use some very powerful and majestic language as he begins to bring the admonition of First Timothy to a close. He enjoins (charge) upon us all his foregoing instructions in the presence of God. Obviously, Paul felt the Holy Spirit in his delivery of this letter, and I pray we are blessed to feel that same power as we read these words. It is no small matter to stand in the presence of God.
We stand in the presence of God who gives life to all things. We also stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, who took upon himself the form of flesh. He was tempted in all points even as we are tempted. He endured all that we are called on to endure and more.
The word translated here as “witnessed” did not mean to observe, but rather to testify. Jesus certainly gave bold testimony in Pilate’s judgment hall. However, His whole ministry was lived during the rule of Pontius Pilate. His life was a beautiful testimony (good confession) of everything that Paul has given us instruction of in this letter.
This is not only about what we say with our voice. This counsel is about how we should live our lives. We are to keep this great charge without blemish. While we may stumble from time to time, we are to never give up and just wallow in mistakes. We are to ser our hearts and minds steadfastly on the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I know there is a keen expectation of the day when we will look upon Him without this veil of flesh. We look forward to a time when we shall see Him as He is and know as we are known. However, I am persuaded that we are also blessed with His appearing while we live here. He appears to us in our keeping of this great charge.
In His times, the times of His appearing to His children here, we see by the Holy Spirit who is the blessed and only Potentate. By His grace we understand now who the Authority over our lives is. While we see many kings arise in this life, we rejoice to know now who the King of kings is. Many in this world may claim to be rulers (lords), but how we are to know the Ruler of rulers.
Our only Lord and King alone has immortality. Even with what we know (see) of Him by faith, we understand that He dwells in the light that we must now see through a glass darkly. Even as we approach the throne of grace every day, we realize that we can see (know) only a glimpse of His majesty. We understand that at our very best, we can never approach Him (or keep this charge) without His grace and mercy.
There is power and glory belonging to Him that we can only begin to perceive through the Holy Spirit. Yet, what we can know and understand is great enough to bring us to our knees and move us to tears. Whereas our own strength fails, His power is everlasting. Once we see our weakness, we begin to trust His power to keep us faithful to this charge.
May our confidence rest in the only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, Amen!
