Saturday, February 16, 2008
Acts 26:24-25, 29 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. . . . I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am [i.e., a Christian], except for these chains."
SPEAKING IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
As the Apostle Paul stood in chains in a hearing before the Roman governor, Festus, he spoke in defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After hearing these things, Festus blurted out that Paul must be crazy to believe them. This did not deter Paul from his defense. In fact, this only caused him to continue his defense of the Gospel and to want to share the Gospel for the salvation of souls, despite the hardships that such a defense might bring upon him personally.
Most likely, we will not find ourselves in the same positions as the Apostle Paul, but we will often find ourselves in positions where the forces of Satan, this sinful world, and our own sinful natures will try to convince us not to make a defense for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the truth of God's Word. These sinful forces will tells us to go with the flow and just act like we're no different from the rest of the world.
Just as we hear that Paul was ridiculed and called "crazy," the world around us often has unkind words and makes harsh judgments against Christians and the truth of God's Word. But just like Paul, the matters at stake for us as Christians are just too important to let these things deter us. The matter at stake is the truth vs. a lie. The matter at stake is the only way for sinners to saved -- which is the Gospel message that Jesus Christ has paid for the sins of the world upon the cross.
My guess is that most, if not all, of us will be faced with a situation in the coming week where we will be given a chance to make a defense for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My guess is that in many of these cases, from an earthly perspective, it will be easier not to do this. When these opportunities present themselves, may God grant us His Spirit as He granted it to the Apostle Paul to speak in defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
