David Bahn - Reflections

You know you've gotten to someone when they resort to false-charges, and big guns. Paul has done this - just as Jesus did. But he's not afraid of big guns. He fears God, loves and trusts in him. Such a faith will stand strong against an arsenal of false threats. We're seldom called upon to face such threats. But if we ever are, may we make a good defense - just as we will soon hear from Paul. Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say in defence of his gospel message - no matter how big the guns may be.

It's good to recall that our paths are known to God - especially when they are long and winding. But it's vitally important that we remember our ultimate destination whenever our paths are beautifully scenic. For those paths can distract us from our ultimate goal. We can easily forget that the beauty of this world is but a pale reflection of the ultimate glory of the new heavens and the new earth. And however long and winding the road may be, God will certainly bring us safely to our ultimate destination.

Who are these people? And why are they trying to help me? They are servants of the Most High God. They are trying to help me stay true and faithful, and aware of God’s goodness and love.

Those the same kinds of people were helping Paul and keeping him pointed toward God and speeding him along on his missionary journeys - even though they had no clue they were doing so.

We may be small and weak in the face of the might and impressive glory of the ways of the world. Evil can look insurmountable. We all have our giants we must face. But God's arm is not too weak to protect us and defeat our enemies. Sometimes it's an overwhelming show of power as allies line up with us. Other times God simply lets evil collapse under its own weight. But one thing's for sure: I won't count on my 40, 400, or 4000 if I am not on God's mission. And I thank God that he has a plan that will come to eternal fruition, joy, glory, and victory. Jesus has won the victory. We wait for his ultimate deliverance - against all odds.

I doubt I'll ever be put in prison because of my Christian witness. But I may face challenges and situations where my faith is put to the test, and my hope in Jesus becomes ever more pure. Whenever such things happen, we can thank God that he is faithful, gracious, and mercifully present.

Paul’s nephew did some heroic things. That set in motion a visit by Paul to Rome. Who knows what little things - heroic or not - might have a great impact in the kingdom of God? After all the most heroic thing ever to have occurred in God’s kingdom started when a young maiden said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said.”

God himself made a vow. It is called in the Bible, a covenant. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34). God kept his vow by sending Jesus to atone for our sins, and grant us the forgiveness we all need. For none of us has kept his vow perfectly. We can rejoice that God’s oath was kept and is for our eternal good.

Paul will be saved from these forty men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saved. We too have been saved by the mighty hand of God - nailed to a cross, dead in our place, risen from the grave, and returning at the end of days to claim us as his own. Forty, forty thousand, or forty trillion notwithstanding, God's got us in his heart, and providential care. That's far more powerful than a mere forty men.

High above all these people, events, schemes, and conversations is the upper story of God's grace, truth, purpose, and plan. Paul will safely go to Rome. Jesus has indicated that to him (Acts 23:11). This episode is a part of that greater story. But there is an even greater arc that reaches even beyond us today. We read about this. It edifies us. It encourages us. It may even challenge us. But the even grander arc reaches into eternity where Jesus is fully and rightly honored. This is where God's glorious grace is consummated, celebrated, and centered.

Perhaps I'm jaded: some of the political trickery and strong arming within the church is not just distasteful, it offends me. It's bad enough that the Jews sought to kill Paul. It is unseemly that Christians fight anyone in the name of Jesus. It is unthinkable that I would ever resort to strongarm tactics to win the day. That may be because I am well past my physical prime. But it is surely more so that I believe the cunning and deceitful schemes of man will never prevail against the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and carried within us by the power of the Holy Spirit.