REASON NOT TO LOSE HEART
As
Luke's account of the Acts of the apostles ends, we find Paul in the
city of Rome, kept under guard by the soldier who was assigned to him
(Acts 28:16). It was under this type of "house arrest"
that Paul found himself for two whole years (vs. 30). According to
Roman law, Paul would constantly find himself chained to a soldier
during the day time and guarded by two soldiers as he slept at night.
Due to these circumstances, Paul could write that "...the
things which happened to me have actually turned out for the
furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole
palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ."
(Phil. 1:12-13) As soldiers would take their turn in being chained
to Paul, they were a "captive audience" to the message of
truth that Paul preached. The fact that he was allowed to dwell in
his own rented house, though constantly chained to a soldier, shows
God's providence toward Paul and for those who would receive the
letters that he wrote to not only Ephesus, but Colosse, Philippi and
Philemon during that period of time. As we read his testimony in
those letters, we too are beneficiaries of God's abundant mercy to
Paul and all who have heard the message he eventually died for.
Even
before Paul's arrest, and as a free man, journeying throughout Asia
and Greece, preaching the gospel of hope, he was troubled on every
side. He reminded his brethren in Corinth of this fact when he
wrote, "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much
trembling." (1 Cor. 2:3) A study of Acts 18:1-17 confirms
Paul's words. Then he spoke of how he, along with some others,
suffered trouble in Asia, saying that "we were burdened beyond
measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we
had the sentence of death in ourselves..." (2 Cor. 1:8-9) A
study of Acts 13-14 gives a detailed account of these sufferings that
Paul and Barnabas endured for the sake of the gospel which they
preached.
The
gospel has had its greatest proliferation in times of great trial and
distress. We find this to be the case in the days before Paul became
a defender and proclaimer of Christ. While he was still living in
ignorance to the truth, "he made havoc of the church, entering
every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to
prison." (Acts 8:3) "At that time a great persecution
arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria..." (vs.
1) In the face of such persecution, and as a result of it, "...those
who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." (vs. 4)
The result was the saving of many souls.
This
same Paul, later found himself on the receiving
end of such persecution as he and Barnabas preached throughout the
regions of Asia, especially in the cities of Antioch (of Pisidia),
Derbe, Lystra and Iconium. In those places, their very lives were
threatened as they did the work of preaching the gospel. Before
leaving that area, "they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and saying, 'We
must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"
(Acts 14:21-22)
During
Paul's third missionary journey, he encountered the threat of the
whole city of Ephesus amidst a mob scene that resulted when his
preaching of the gospel conflicted with their idolatrous beliefs and
threatened the jobs and livelihood of many who made silver shrines of
the goddess, Diana. (Acts 19:23-41) However, despite such danger,
the church was established in that city which had great influence for
good throughout that region of Asia. (Acts 19:10)
These
examples should give us hope in the face of despair. They give
credence to the words of Paul as he affirms what we should know;
"...that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
(Acts 8:28) If our love for God is centered around His Son and the
word of truth that calls many to Him, we have this assurance that
good will result.
On
the heels of those encouraging words, Paul asked the following
thought-provoking question; "If God is for us, who can be
against us?" (vs. 31) Then he followed by asking three more
questions; "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect...Who
is he who condemns...and...Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ?" (vss. 33-35)
In
answer to those questions, consider the fact that there are those who
will falsely accuse us, but not with any success, for "It is God
who justifies." (vs. 33) There will always be those who seek to
condemn us, but not with any authority, for Christ's authority is
firmly established in the fact of His death, burial and resurrection
as He now reigns "...at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us." (vs. 34) And though Satan will certainly
try to separate us from the love of God, "Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword" accomplish his mission? (vs. 35) The answer is a
resounding NO! God's love is unconditional and cannot be effected by
any of Satan's devices. Paul could relate first hand to the words of
the psalmist by quoting, "For Your sake we are killed all day
long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (vs. 36,
quoted from Psm. 44:22) But even though this was the case in Paul's
life, he could confidently reply, "Yet in all these things we
are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor
depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (vss. 37-39)
While
it may be easy to become discouraged in the Lord's work, we must
understand that "...neither he who plants is anything, nor he
who waters, but God gives the increase." (1 Cor. 3:7) Remember,
after the long winter, the seeds that were once covered with snow
will sprout in the spring to bear fruit for the harvest in its proper
season.
Paul
had reason not to lose heart and so do we if we put our trust in Him.
Therefore he said, "...be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in
vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58)
-
Gary V. Womack - August 2004