Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13
On April 2, 1521, Martin Luther began his journey from his home in Saxony, Germany, to attend the Imperial Diet of Worms, where he had been called by the Roman Catholic hierarchy to respond to accusations against him. It was the intention of both the emperor, Karl V, and the church that Luther would recant his teachings that defied the doctrines and authority of the church. Before he left, his friends urged him not to go, knowing that he was in great peril, and would probably be arrested and possibly be imprisoned and killed. But Luther felt the Lord was leading him to go, and told his friends, ‘Although there were as many devils in Worms as there are tiles upon the housetops, I would go thither.’ Luther’s courage paid off. Along the way to Worms, he preached in several places, and was warmly welcomed by the people. On his arrival at Worms, he was cheered and warmly welcomed by the people, and the church authorities dared to do little against him. At the hearing, he told the emperor, ‘Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.’
No doubt Luther had in mind today’s text as he made his resolve to appear before the Diet of Worms. Paul’s declaration before the Christians in Caesarea stands as a monument to the resolve of God’s people to stand for their Lord even in the greatest of perils. Paul’s commitment took him to Jerusalem and imprisonment and eventually to Nero’s chopping block. Many other apostles and early Christian leaders also experienced similar situations. In the Roman arenas, the tooth and paw of the lion was not peril enough to cause faithful Christians to recant. Down through the centuries, untold thousands have died with the same resolve, to place themselves totally into the hands of God, regardless of what men would do to them. Today, dear saints are dying at the hands of communist and Moslem butchers because of their faithfulness to their Lord. These have all seen beyond the present problems to the reward that awaits in eternity.
We feel embarrassed at how little we are called upon to suffer for our Lord, when we consider how much others have endured for Him. But God has not placed us into those circumstances; He has other purposes for us, or most of us. In our society of safety and freedom, we have no great peril. But God still calls us to a firm resolve. We are called upon to be faithful to the principles of the Word of God, to the truths concerning God’s Assembly, to the furtherance of the Gospel, to a life of righteousness and peace and blessing to others.
If Paul could be resolved to face death if necessary for God, can we resolve to face whatever comes to be faithful in our own small way? – Jim MacIntosh