“Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.” (2 Timothy 4:21, NKJV).

The first time I visited the United States of America was in a winter season. It was early in January right in the middle of winter. I recalled sending a text to my wife describing my first impression of life in America as people living right inside deep freezers. I later learnt to my dismay that all the clothes I brought from Nigeria to America would be of no practical use to me in the face of the freezing winter weather. I had to buy new clothes to be able to survive under the freezing cold I was experiencing. What frightened me the more was that my ears suddenly went numb and until a friend loaned a winter cap and advised me to cover my ears properly. The objective lesson I learnt quickly was that winter, as a season, has a set of protocols that one must observe if one is not courting for problem. Winter affects everything in the temperate regions of the earth. Apart from its unique demands for clothing, vehicles are required to use special tyres designed for the winter roads. Air travels are disrupted and navigations, whether through the air, land or sea are more problematic. It makes sense therefore when Paul advised Timothy, his protegee, to do his utmost to undertake his impending trans-Mediterranean trip before winter.

Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Do your utmost to come before winter,” was in cognisance of the fact that the harsh conditions of the winter weather made travel by sea difficult and sometimes impossible. Paul had had his fair share of hazardous experiences on sea travels. He testifies, “… three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep”(2Corinthians 11:25). Therefore, he was drawing from his wealth of experience to advise Timothy. Paul understood that winter storms generate high wind, large waves and rough sea that makes navigation precarious. He was clearly aware that fog, snow and freezing spray can reduce visibility in the seas and thus increasing the chances of collusion or grounding of ships. Based on verifiable information at his disposal, he advised Timothy to endeavour to make his trip before winter. He did not advise him to fast for seven days and bind the demon of winter and come anytime. This is a typical example of commonsense Christianity. Commonsense Christianity acknowledges the unique roles of faith and reason in balanced Christian living. It would be totally a very different scenario if an emergency arose that would compel Timothy to travel in winter. This was not the case. This was a planned journey probably on the invitation of Paul, who had earlier directed, “Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments”(2Timothy 4:13).

Doing things at their proper times is simply a matter of commonsense. The Bible affirms, “Everything has its time to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When you miss the proper time of doing a particular thing, you disrupt the rhythm of nature and cause avoidable problems. For example, when a farmer fails to plant his seed at the appropriate times, he stands the chance of reaping diminished harvest or no harvest at all. Hence, the Bible affirms that there is a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted. When you do anything at its God-appointed time, things go on seamlessly without much difficulties. But when you do things off seasons, you create problems because you will be required to put in more effort to achieve the required results. There is time to work hard and a time to pray. When you refuse to work hard when you should but rather decide to pray, you are creating problem for yourselves. On the other hand, when you refuse to pray when you should, you may end up discounting on God. Commonsense Christianity demands that everything must be done as and when due to maintain the rhythm of nature. The combination of faith and reason is a winning pair any time any day. Run with the combo and be forever blessed in Jesus’ name.