CAN'T SCARE SOMEONE WITH THIS PERSPECTIVE
ACTS 25:11 NKJV
11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar."
The religious Jews were dead set on killing Paul. Even though he had been in prison for over two years, they wanted him dead.
But Paul was not intimidated by their fervor or their hostile intent. He seemed to always be in control when facing their repeated baseless accusations.
Now Paul is defending himself before Festus, a Roman governor who replaced Felix. But Paul is unmoved and unafraid. In verse 11, we can see why.
Paul is not afraid of death. He states that if he did anything wrong, he did not object to dying. Not object to dying. Who says things like that?
Paul was not afraid of dying because he knew what was on the other side. He would write the Philippian church and tell them that to die was a better thing. That the only reason he was living was to obey the Lord and help them. (Philippians 1:19-25) He would rather depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
With that kind of perspective, Paul had to be a hard man to scare. He understood that this life is very temporary. And Paul understood that his biggest goal was not to protect his life but to finish the race set before him.
When the threat of death is no longer a threat, fear no longer has leverage.
But Paul had another advantage. After Paul had been arrested, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and let him know that he was going to witness in Rome. Paul knew what was going to happen ahead of time, and he believed what Jesus had said.
APPLICATION:
We try very hard to protect our lives. I am not advocating reckless living. But Jesus does talk about not loving our lives.
Paul talked about not being moved by trouble because he did not consider his life dear to himself. (Acts 20:324) The biggest thing in Paul's life was finishing what Jesus gave him to do.
I am not at that place, but I believe there is something very powerful here. What freedom to stare trouble and death in the face and laugh. What a powerful perspective.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father may I learn to live with eternity in mind and not living to protect my life. I want to finish what you have given me to do with joy and without fear.