Faithful Followers

Introduction

There are numerous crossroads in life. Some we get to choose; others are chosen for us. This past week I was talking with a cousin whose family lived in Nashville for a short period of time. He was 4 or so when his family moved back to rural western Kentucky. He told me how grateful he was to move back. He didn’t choose it but he thrived by that choice. As I told him, life would have been very different if his family had stayed in Nashville. That crossroads was for his father my uncle and aunt to decide. But he has made numerous choices since. So many crossroads.

You can think about the crossroads of your life. Decisions made by choice or decisions made under duress. How different life would have been if you had chosen differently. It is one of the great mysteries of life to think about what might have been; it is also one of the places for Satan to lie to us. Thinking about those choices is normal; giving room for Satan is not wise. For what we cannot see nor understand is that in all of those decisions, God was with us. It is possible to spiral into regrets trying to second guess all the decisions. It is also possible to see the hand of God at work if we choose to. One of those crossroads — will you focus on what might have been or will you choose to see that God has been at work in all those decisions even when we didn’t see him. Life is filled with crossroads.

It isn’t often that we come to the end of one of Paul’s writings and spend much time dealing with his final thoughts that often focus on people and greetings. Today we will. It isn’t that Paul writes for doctrinal insight but that we can understand that for those with Paul had crossroad moments too.

Main Point

The point of this section is twofold. First, it is to remind the readers that Paul’s condition as a prisoner was a result of his preaching the gospel. Notice in 4:7, that Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. In 4:10, Aristarchus is called a fellow prisoner. In 4:18, he explicitly writes “remember my chains.” While he had not preached in Colossae, he had preached throughout the area and this had resulted in imprisonment and eventually it will result in his death. His chains were their freedom. They were now followers of Jesus. Don’t allow your current opposition to keep you from following the truth. His chains proved his dedication to Jesus. They should be equally dedicated in the face of opposition.

Second, this section is to reveal his connection to those who the Colossians know and his expectation that they will all continue to work together for the gospel to be revealed. Each name has a purpose. They are not random. They serve to be a reminder that God is working through a number of people including Paul and the Colossians.

Names

Let’s look at the names that Paul mentions. Life is filled with crossroads.

Tychicus — mentioned several times in the NT. In Acts 20:4, he is mentioned along with Timothy, Aristarchus, and a number of others as being a travel companion for Paul. In Ephesians 6:21, he is mentioned as the bearer of that letter who will explain to the readers about Paul’s situation (almost verbatim the same language as found here). In 2 Timothy 4:12, Paul sends him to Ephesus. Titus 3:12 he is sent as a replacement for Titus at Crete so that Titus can meet Paul. Paul describes him as a fellow servant or slave in the Lord. According to Acts he is from the province of Asia which includes the city of Lystra and some have surmised that he and Timothy were close friends. Here’s the point. When Paul came to Lystra and preached, he healed a man who was lame; was considered a god; dissuaded the people from sacrificing to them and was stoned there. On Paul’s way back home when he stopped in Lystra again, he spoke about that the gospel brings suffering. Do you think Tychicus heard these things? Do you think he had to decide if he was going to listen and act? At a crossroads he chose Jesus and started walking as a slave to Jesus.

ii. Onesimus — a runaway slave coming back to Colossae. His master is Philemon. He carries a letter that Paul wrote to Philemon. He knows what’s in the letter. He heard as Paul dictated it. Runaway as a slave. Returning as a brother in Jesus. Do you think his heart rate increased as he walked into the city? Do you think his breathing was a bit faster as he saw Philemon for the first time? Do you think he handed the letter to Philemon and had to wait for his response that he did so calmly? Crossroads.

iii. Aristarchus — a traveling companion with Paul. He is mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; and 27:2. He was from Thessalonica. He is a prisoner along with Paul. Acts 27:2 seems to verify this fact as does the Acts 19 passage where he is dragged into the assembly of Ephesus to face charges of insurrection. Do you think when Aristarchus left home from Thessalonica that he expected to be imprisoned and to face death with Paul? Crossroads.

iv. Mark — the one who left Paul on his first missionary journey; the one that Paul didn’t want around on the second journey but now the one that is endorsed should he arrive in Colossae; the one who Paul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11 to go get Mark and bring him to Paul because Paul is getting ready to die. How do you explain from failure to valued friend? Could Mark envision this kind of redemption? Crossroads.

Epaphras — found three times in the NT. Colossians 1:7; 4:12; and Philemon verse 23. The man who brought the gospel to Colossae; Laodicea; and Hieropolis. Paul describes him as a man who wrestles in prayer for these saints. Speculation is that Paul trained Epaphras and then sent him out. Do you think he ever envisioned being the preacher? Crossroads.

vi. Demas — mentioned three times in scripture. Here in verse 14; again in Philemon 24 as one who greets Philemon and in 2 Timothy 4:10 where sadly Paul says he has fallen in love with the world and abandoned Paul. How do you go from a man who loves the Lord; a trusted companion of Paul; one listed as a faithful greeter to others to one who loves the world? What happened? Crossroads.

vii. Archippus — a leader in the church at Colossae. According to Philemon verse 2, the church meets in his home. Members include Philemon and Onesimus. Paul announces for the church to make sure that Archippus is doing what God called him to do. Do you think Paul was concerned that Archippus wasn’t doing his job? Was Paul trying to inspire him? I think he is telling the church that they are to follow Archippus as he is following the Lord. It is a reminder that his role in the congregation is to walk in faith so that others will follow. Crossroads.

I am struck with this truth — every person in this passage made a decision about Jesus and that decision had consequences. They were tested, challenged, encouraged, and in Demas’ case got so distracted that he trusted the world rather than Jesus. Every individual could not have predicted where they were when Paul wrote this letter. Every individual, however, faced a crossroads and had to decide. Would they follow Jesus no matter what the consequences? No looking back. No wondering “what if.” Instead having chosen to follow Jesus, they were willing for the challenges to come. Invitation.

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