The Apostle Paul is standing on the steps of a Roman garrison in Jerusalem, telling the crowd about his conversion on the road to Damascus. When we concluded yesterday he had just finished relating his conversation with Ananias. Today we begin with the story of his return to Jerusalem after the Damascus road experience, which we know from his own words in Galatians 1:15-18 wasn't until three years later. "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me, 'Quick!' He said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me." (Acts 22:17-18) Not everyone at Jerusalem in those days was Paul's enemy, but he had enough enemies for a plot to form against his life. This may be the same incident we studied in Acts 9 when the Hellenistic Jews intended to kill him. Luke didn't tell us in Acts 9 how their plot was discovered, but it could have been revealed to Paul in the vision of verses 17 and 18. Upon learning of this the believers escorted Paul safely down to Caesarea and sent him by boat back to Tarsus.
The Lord told Paul to depart from Jerusalem and now Paul lets us in on a little secret: he tried to argue with the Lord. I've tried to argue with the Lord, haven't you? I've tried to talk Him into things, or talk Him out of things, or explain to Him why I think my own plan for myself is the best. It comforts me to know that a great apostle of the Lord also tried to argue with the One who knows best. Paul tells us what he said to the Lord, "'Lord,' I replied, 'these people know that I went from synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'" (Acts 22:19-20)
Paul is saying something like, "But, Lord, I'm the perfect choice to tell my fellow countrymen about Jesus! A miraculous conversion story like mine is bound to have a huge impact on them. They know how much I hated the Christians. They know I'm responsible for having Christians beaten, imprisoned, and even killed. But now, after meeting the risen Christ on the Damascus road, I myself am a Christian. I used to be a man filled with hatred and pride and selfish ambition, but now the only thing I want is to lead others to Christ and to help build His church. I love all my fellow human beings now. I want them all to have what I have in Christ. Surely a story like mine will change hearts!"
Looking at the situation from a human standpoint, Paul does seem to be the perfect person to preach Christ to his own people, but God knows the future. He knows that the same influential religious leaders who hated Christ and had Him put to death will also hate Paul and want to put him to death. The strict Pharisees who once were Paul's friends are now his enemies. In their minds he has either deserted the true faith or he has gone mad---either way they want him stopped. The Lord doesn't waste time arguing with Paul; He simply restates His instructions. "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 22:21)
Today's passage is especially meaningful to me. I'm going through a season in life when important decisions need to be made and they need to be made according to God's will. I don't know yet what His answers will be, and I don't know whether they will be what I want to hear, but I'm listening. I hope I won't try to argue with Him or try to persuade Him that my plans are better than His. I hope that I will have the faith to say "yes" to His instructions. I desire your prayers that His will would be made clear to me and that I will have the faith to follow Him wherever He leads. The Apostle Paul sets an example for us in such situations. Although he did briefly try to persuade God to change His mind, when God said "Go!" Paul said "Yes".
No comments:
Post a Comment