What do men like Paul know that we do not, what did they see that we seem to be ignorant of, and what was the persuasion that made them dogged and rugged to obtain the eternal crown? How do they measure and assess things that we have not come into?

Paul was no special breed, though an uncommon man in many ways. He distinguished himself as a missionary, writer, and sufferer for Christ. Paul could have had anything in the world. He would have become a successful leader in his field of Choice but became all things including poor, destitute, hungry, without clothing, shipwrecked, disgraced, imprisoned, stoned, and so on for Christ and the gospel.

Paul was an indomitable man of little stature but a giant in faith. Whatever was driving him must be bigger than any earthly motivation or accomplishment. He was not fighting as one beating the air, Paul had a goal: He had seen the crown of glory, he had seen the Lord of glory, and nothing would make him miss it.

With his long list of suffering, Paul never looked back. He even called them light afflictions which is nothing compared to the glory to be revealed in us. Though pressed hard on every side, Paul will not be crushed, though persecuted, nothing will destroy his faith, though forsaken, Paul never abandoned his cross and calling (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).  He was determined to win Christ even if He lose the world. And He did.

Paul stood before Kings undaunted and unchallenged, he had seen someone bigger than Festus or Agrippa. He had seen a vision bigger than the whole Roman empire. Whatever he saw in the Arabian desert had shaped his heart. He was on a journey of no return to the world. Paul was crucified to the world, none of its glamour ever moved him. And for this cause, he said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel”, and also that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.