Based on Acts 24:1-21 (New King James Version)
“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: ‘Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.’ And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. ‘Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ’ ”
There is one fact that is irrefutable, and that is: that the Word of God will be fulfilled, and there is nothing that can change that. Everything will come to pass just as the Most High said and left it written, as the Lord himself affirmed again: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35. We have to understand that this is so because what God says are not just words, but there is something beyond, something almost indescribable. There is incredible, unimaginable power involved with what comes out of God. We know that everything that exists, the visible and invisible, exists because one day God said it was so, and it was, and it is until today, and it will be until He says otherwise. One day God said: “Let there be light,” and there was light. One day God told man to multiply, and today we are more than 7 billion people in the world. What God says happens.
Now, everything in the Word of God is conditional with regards to man and what ultimately ends up happening with each one of us. There is no such thing as everything in us individually being preordained or predestined in some way, in general. In other words, we are not pre-programmed robots. God made us with a will and with reason. But what is very predetermined is the progress and the end of the path that a man chooses to follow. A person chooses the path they want to follow, and according to what they want to follow, in this way the Word of God will be fulfilled in their own life. It must be understood, for our own good, that if everything is already determined, and that there will be an end, and that there will be a final judgment, and that we will all stand before Him, then we should ask ourselves this question: How will the Word of God be fulfilled in my life? If a rational person understands that everything God says will come to be, then they should ask that question.
In the passage we saw today, the Apostle Paul was going through things that the Lord Himself said that would happen to those that fit, if you will, in the scheme or in the way they chose to follow. This is what the Lord said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” Mark 13:9-10. So then, why did Paul go through what he did? Just like he said it, because of the resurrection of the dead, for his faith in God, and nothing else. That was the crux of the whole problem. Christ was ultimately the problem, per say. And the Lord also warned of the division that His person would bring, and not only among common people, but even within the most intimate relationships, as it is written: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:34-38.
But within all this, we should then consider: “What would I gain by following Christ, if I risk having problems even with my loved ones?” The vast majority make the decision either to believe in Christ in their own way, or not to follow Christ to try to avoid problems. But, the Word of God will be fulfilled for our good if we choose to follow the Lord faithfully, despite the problems we will have, and that eternal life is worth more than any problem one may have here. This also said the Lord: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39. And it is also written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. Paul considered that it was more worthwhile to win the crown of life than to have the favor of men and live a comfortable and peaceful life in this temporary world. This same thing the Apostle wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. In summary, if we love God, we will lose certain things here and now, but we will obtain eternity and things that we cannot even imagine in that eternity. So then, are you looking for the Word of God to be fulfilled in your life for your eternal good? Lord bless! John