and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 

2 Timothy 2:2 

2 Tim. 2: 1-7

Recurrent Thought

Tomorrow is created by today. Superstars and giants of the future are nurtured in the academies of today.

We impact our today and tomorrow through our Life Roles.  Life roles are the various positions, functions, and responsibilities an individual assumes within society, family, and their career. Understanding the roles, you play, whether chosen or unchosen, is crucial to maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Life Roles come with expectations and responsibilities associated with them; these roles evolve and change depending on circumstances and personal growth. Roles are a powerful vehicle of execution of vision and multiplying influence

In the Text, Paul casts four abstract Life Roles a Disciple Maker assumes in the Kingdom of God. The roles are the implication thereof, are also framed as essential to the continued existence of the of the Church and appearance of God’s Grace to the peoples of the Earth. As you assume and act out these roles, you Keep Guard to the Future of your community. The Life Roles are depicted as Metaphors through which Paul as an effective Discipler intends to impact the future of the Church (2 Tim. 2:1-7).  He uses the metaphors of a teacher, soldier, athlete, and farmer to urge Timothy to pass on the gospel, endure hardship, and stay focused on his divine calling. These illustrations outline a life of sacrifice, strict discipline, patient labor, and reliance on God's grace. Throughout the passage, Paul underscores the necessity of relying on the "grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:1) while at the same time emphasizing the human part that demands strenuous effort and endurance for a future reward.

The Life Roles that Paul calls Timothy to assume are critical to the stability and the future of the Church. He calls him to understand that a disciple maker ministers beyond their present generation. They minister for the future.  Here Paul envisioned four Generations Paul → Timothy → Faithful Men → Others also. The basis of influencing the Future is based on the principle of species generation and multiplication. This Philosophy is critical for a long time survival and thriving of all living things in the earth. When it comes to organizations, the Discipline of multiplication in communities is the deliberate practice of developing other leaders rather than just followers.

Some American Indians peoples espoused an ancient philosophy they called the Seventh Generation Principle. It dictates that every current generation must actively consider how their present decisions, regarding land, resources, and governance, impact the well-being of descendants seven generations into the future. This is what it means to Keep Guard on the Future.

The Truth is that we can’t stop the future from happening to us, but we can influence the nature of the future we get. We have to start today. Have you heard of that adage which says, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is today?  This is a reminder that while starting earlier might have been ideal, acting immediately is always the next best. Start today to keep guard on the future, let us influence our tomorrow.

Here are four Life Roles that gives you capacity to influence the Future

1.See Yourself as a Teacher (2 Tim 2:2)

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to  faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 

Securing the Future by Teaching

• Be Intentional in Teaching of Foundational Truths
• In kingdom work, just like in all businesses, Multiplication is based on passing on the Mission, philosophy, Values and vision of the entity. One major way to do this is to entrust (commit) like a sacred treasure to other faithful people. In this case the Gospel must be carefully transmitted without corruption. For the Church to advance proper teaching must happen. Teach doctrine clearly and faithfully. Truth must be transferred, not merely admired (Mat. 28:19–20; 2 Peter 3:2).
• You are a Steward of the truth and multiplier in others
• Timothy was to entrust the gospel to "faithful men” were to teach to others also.  An effective discipler is a multiplier of seed, process and vision.
• Teacher see the future others do not see. They see the potential in the disciple they spend time to mentor. As a Teacher you must be intentional in the way you teach. Because of the burden of the future, you must also be selective in the people you deposit into. As a teacher you are have a part in How the Future shall roll out. Paul showed Timothy that he had capacity to impact four generations at once. Paul-Timothy-Faithful Men-Others
• Be part of creating the Future Narratives
• It has been stated that the most powerful way to influence the future is by changing the stories we tell each other today. The stories about our desired future (Vision) creates a mental gap that makes transformation stick. Psychologists observe that when people deliberately write a story centered around a future version of themselves, their brain connects with that character. By defining what tomorrow can look like, we trigger the brain's natural response to plan and act toward that vision.
• Teaching should be anchoring the future stories in the truth about our realities. For the Church, we must look at its mission, reason for being, and project intense visions, which are our preferred future

2.See Yourself as a Soldier (2 Tim 2:3-4):

2Ti 2:3  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 2:4  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him

• Who is a soldier? A soldier is person who is trained to serve in an army with hope of defending his country. In Ancient Rome, a soldier was a disciplined, professional warrior integral to expanding and maintaining the Roman Empire. They served in the legions, undergoing rigorous training and adhering to strict military discipline.
• A Roman soldier was a well-trained fighting machine. He could march 20 miles a day, wearing all his armor and equipment. He could swim or cross rivers in boats, build bridges and smash his way into forts

Guarding by Focus

• A Life Role of a Soldier espouses loyalty to a cause.  
• A disciple maker has a single-minded focus to disciple others.
• A soldier endures hardship and avoids getting entangled in "civilian pursuits" to please their commanding officer.
• Spiritually, the Soldier perception speaks of less worldly distractions
• See Yourself as holding to the Future of this nation despite the distractions and pain you may go through.
• A Soldier is loyal to the enlisting Master. Similarly a disciple maker is loyal to the demands of discipling others.

3. See Yourself as an Athlete (2 Tim 2:5):

2Ti 2:5  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 

• Broadly defined an athlete is a person trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, and stamina.
• The Olympics was a huge empire-wide draw that made athleticism popular.  These Events were first recorded in 776 B.C, in Olympia, Greece. They were held every four years as a religious festival to honor Zeus, the king of the gods. They lasted for nearly 12 centuries before being phased out in the late 4th century A.D. However, the modern form of Olympics resumed on 6th April 1896, in Athens, Greece. They run in similar time frame, every four years but with less deity connection.
• In the text, you are enjoined to see yourself as an athlete, capturing the character and the discipline of excellence.

A Future Captured by Order

A Disciple maker pursues a life of Discipline. It is a life structured with guardrails

• A Disciple maker impacts others with integrity. You are a person who does it under boundaries, of rules. You are want to win but ethically correct. You want to impact others but with a clear conscience. The Question you wrestle with include, What will posterity say about my business? This type of role highlights the need for a self-controlled, ethical, and obedient life. This is living and ministering in ways that honor God's standards. 
• To an athlete strenuous training is a prerequisite to victories in life. Every spiritual growth requires consistency. There are no crowns without discipline. Disciplined focus produces victories, Athletes Focus on the Prize. Disciple makers also focus on eternal rewards; they Stay focused on eternity.
• To a disciple maker, obedience is foundational. Jesus declared that disciples must observe (obey) what he demands. Obeying rules is an important influence on the future of any community. It shows that ministry must honor God’s truth and methods. Character matters as much as gifting. Great results never justify wrong methods.

4.See Yourself as A Farmer (2 Tim 2:6)

2Ti 2:6  It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops

• A farmer is a person who engages in cultivating, grows crops, or raises animals to provide food, and raw materials to sustain the livelihood of others. Farmers are the foundation of the food supply that impacts the feeding of populations. Although there are many traits that a farmer manifests, the text isolates the Values of Hard work and patient expectation. A farmer labor tirelessly before enjoying the "first share of the crops". This metaphor emphasizes exhausting but necessary daily grind of ministry and the confident hope of a future harvest (eternal reward). 

 Guarding a Future through Hard Work

• A Disciple maker works hard to the impact others. They work so hard driven with a patient expectation that their effort will bear fruit.
• The Future belongs to people that work hard and smart. Just as farmers work hard, ministry requires effort. Disciple making requires effort and consistency. It is a founded on a firm belief that harvests belong to workers, not spectators.
• We are indeed human and our time on the earth is limited. We sustain the future by impacting others. How we nurture others today impacts their tomorrow.  Paul understood his ministry would continue through others. Disciple making creates spiritual legacy.
• The farmers’ orientation is to patiently expect fruits. Farmers wait patiently because growth takes time. Seeds grow silently before fruit appears.
• Do not become discouraged when results seem slow. Farmers eventually receive fruits. This is the truth of the human existence, faithful labor produces harvest. Therefore, to Keep an influence on the future is to continue sowing good seeds when the results are not in sight. Continue sowing the Word faithfully, because faithful labor always has eternal reward. The critical question we must ask ourselves is: “Who am I preparing to continue the Gospel after me?” “A disciple maker thinks generationally.” Psalm 78:4–7

Conclusion

Yes, we can’t stop the arrival of tomorrow. But we can influence what happens tomorrow. For us is to have an impact on generations to come we must be deliberate and sow seed in the tomorrow

Altar Time

Lord,by Your Grace, let me have an impact in what happens tomorrow in the Nation and in the Kingdom of God