| 2 Timothy 1:16 – “He often refreshed me.” |
How do you desire to be remembered?
It’s not a mere idle question, one of those hypothetical “what if” daydreams. It’s real. There will come a day when you will be remembered. I sit with grieving families, seeking glimpses into the lives of the departed. “What memories do you hold of them?” And those memories shape the words that will be spoken over your lifeless form. Or perhaps, it is how your grandchildren will recount your story to their own children? Will they describe you as harsh, funny, hateful, or attentive? It will all boil down to single words.
But have you ever considered how you would want to be remembered if your name were to be inscribed in the annals of history?
I am always astounded by the fleeting mentions of individuals in ancient texts. They are ordinary and unknown. Yet, they are immortalized because their names grace a verse or two.
This is precisely what occurred in 2 Timothy 1. Paul finds himself confined in Roman custody, awaiting the impending day of his demise. And in his final writings, he imparts wisdom that he hopes will truly resonate with people. Amid his discourse, he drops the names of Phygelus and Hermogenes. We know nothing about them, except for one damning word—they abandoned me. When Paul needed them the most, they left him stranded.
However, there is another figure, obscure and enigmatic, whose name carries the meaning “profitable.” His name is Onesiphorus. Paul reveals that when he arrived in Rome, he tirelessly scoured the labyrinthine streets, inquiring about a man named Paul—a prisoner. It was no easy task, for who willingly associates with a prisoner? Surely, something must be amiss with you if you keep such company! Yet, just as the two betrayers are remembered by a single word, Onesiphorus too secures his eternal reputation. “May the Lord extend mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he frequently revitalized me and was unashamed of my chains.” (2 Timothy 1:16) He breathed life into me.
We may never know the precise way he accomplished this. Perhaps it was through warm conversations with a lonely elderly man. Or by offering cool water to parched lips. Maybe it was through sharing humorous anecdotes that lifted spirits. But this much is clear—Paul was revived and felt a newfound sense of freedom in the presence of Onesiphorus. Isn’t that a remarkable way to be remembered?
Let us take heed, for you and I will be remembered…with a solitary word. What word do you yearn to be associated with you?
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
