2/13/13

REASON NOT TO LOSE HEART by Gary Womack


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