Note 23 at 2 Tim. 1:12: "These things," that Paul is referring to are things concerning his persecution. Paul was in prison at the time he wrote this letter and death looked imminent. Paul's preaching of the Gospel is what put him in prison, yet he wasn't ashamed.

Note 24 at 2 Tim. 1:12: Paul had already told Timothy not to be ashamed of the Gospel nor his imprisonment. Now Paul is saying that he is not ashamed. No doubt this was a challenge to Timothy. If Paul, who was suffering more than Timothy, wasn't ashamed, why should Timothy be?

Note 25 at 2 Tim. 1:12: Paul was facing nearly certain death. Plus, he was viewed by many as a common criminal, but he wasn't ashamed. How could that be? Paul tells us in this verse.

Paul not only believed, but he believed in a person. Christ Jesus was the object of his faith. He wasn't just believing in doctrines or creeds, but in a real person with whom he had a relationship. That faith in Jesus led Paul to believe that the Lord would right every wrong on "that day"; therefore, he was able to wait for God's righteous judgment.

Anyone who is suffering unjustly and is shamed by it hasn't fully realized that we have a judge in heaven who will vindicate everyone who has been falsely accused. Whatever injustices we suffer, come in relative obscurity. When our Father sits as judge, it will be in front of everyone who has ever lived with all of the angels.

For this reason, Paul wasn't ashamed. He knew Christ, and he knew that Jesus Christ took the persecution of His saints personally (see note 1 at Col. 1:24, p. 1193). There would come a day when Paul would be exonerated.

Note 26 at 2 Tim. 1:12: Notice that Paul said the Lord would keep that which he had committed unto Him. The word "commit" means, "to consign, entrust...to pledge (oneself) to a position on some issue" (NAHD). Paul had entrusted his life to the Lord. He had committed himself to preaching the Gospel regardless of the cost. Therefore, Paul knew that the Lord would keep what he had committed to Him. There can be no keeping on the Lord's part if there is no commitment on our part.

This is especially significant in our society today where commitments are hard to come by. Many have forsaken marriage and are just living together because they don't want to be bound by a commitment. Even those who do marry are quick to break their commitments. People don't keep their word. Legal documents of all kinds are only as good as the lawyer who writes them.

With God, commitments are still very important. God keeps that, and only that, which we commit to Him.