And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. Acts 23:11
While we were making plans for a trip, a travel agent advised us to seriously consider buying travel insurance. The agent pointed out that the expenses associated with tickets and accommodation could go to waste if something occurred that prevented us from making the trip. Problems could arise such as a serious illness or a family emergency that would cause us to have to cancel the trip. Weather problems or terrorist activity could delay or abort the travel plans. With so much uncertainty, the agent said, it was wise to have some protection. We can all agree that very little about life is certain; we can and should make plans, but always with the understanding that those plans could change. We have no promises that what we plan will be completed. Not like Paul did when he planned to go to Rome.
The confusion and violence that accompanied Paul’s appearance in Jerusalem undoubtedly left him in uncertainty and probably left him discouraged. The Roman soldiers had rescued him from a violent mob, securing him in a castle. Although for the moment he was safe, he was also frustrated in his efforts to testify to the people in Jerusalem. For the forseeable future, his life was to be one of protective custody. He had also been hoping to go to Rome, and felt he had the leading of the Holy Spirit in that direction. But those hopes appeared to be dashed, at least for the present. It is at that point that Paul receives a divine message from a divine Presence. The Lord stood by him. What a comfort that was! And the Lord assured him he was going to be a witness in Rome. What a promise that was! It was a great encouragement to Paul at that time. And it was a great source of comfort in the coming days and months, as trouble swirled around him. All of the perils that Paul encountered until he arrived in Rome held no fears for him. Amid the murder plots, the riots, the ocean storms and shipwrecks, the snake bites, and all the other adventures, Paul would take shelter in those words from the Lord Himself: ‘So must thou bear witness also at Rome’. Resting in that promise eliminated all worries. If it worked for Paul, it can work for us.
The Lord has never promised me safe passage to Rome, or to any other place. But He has made specific promises to me, just as He has made specific promises to you. And He is just as incapable of breaking those promises as He was at breaking His word to Paul. It is easy to doubt those promises when we see things going contrary to what we expected. But if God has given you a promise, He did so with the expectation that you would trust Him to fulfill it. By living in the good of God’s promises, we can be secure and happy.
Consider the great promises that God has given you. Are you living in the comfort of trusting God to keep His promises? Or are you doubting Him and living in needless worry and frustration? – Jim MacIntosh