PrintReaching Rome, Reaching Home.
There is a simple little phrase in the last chapter of Acts that meant a lot to me some years ago and that same phrase seemed to be underlined by the Holy Spirit just a week or so back. "And so we came to Rome". (Acts 28/14)
This simple statement marked the end of a remarkable journey - a journey that began back in the Acts 23 when the Lord said to Paul, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome." (v.11). When the Lord says "you must" He means "you must"!! Come hell or high water, Paul must and will preach the Good News in Rome.
Despite at least two assassination attempts, a rigged trial, an ocean voyage that included a storm of typhoon strength, a shipwreck on the island of Malta and, to top it all off, a poisonous snake bite, Paul arrived in Rome. The Lord had said "you must" and so he will. This was the end of the much-traveled Paul's final journey. Here he would remain until his death. When he finally arrived in Rome, Paul was placed under house arrest.
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. For the next two years, Paul lived in his own rented house. He welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God with all boldness and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. (Acts 28:16,30-31)
A few days ago I celebrated my 67th birthday with my family. Life continues to be quite a journey. Yet, as much as I would like to think otherwise, I am closer to the end of the journey than I am to its beginning! Now I find myself in reflective mood.
I'm not depressed or anything like that. But the every-present reminders of Parkinson's Disease, the memory of a heart attack a few years back, the more recent discovery and removal of a tumour (benign, thankfully) all testify to the reality of mortality. I have previously thought of Parkinson's Disease as being like a hijacker on board my aircraft.Now I think of it more like the soldier who guarded Paul in his own private dwelling. That military presence was a constant reminder that Paul lived within the constraints of house arrest.
Paul could still minister to those who came to visit him but there were limits in what he could do because of that soldier. Despite those limits, Paul spent the next 2 years , "….proclaiming the Kingdom of God with all boldness and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him."
Now I am not thinking that I have only 2 years left to fulfill my life and calling! I'd like to think I had more than that but God alone knows. However, whether it is 2 years, 10 years, 15 years or whatever, I do have a sense of having moved into the final phase of my life and service for the King. I realistically have to recognize that there will most likely be no more 'mission trips'.
But who knows; this final phase may yet be the most productive for the King and the Kingdom? There may be limitations as to what I can do but even these may be the means whereby I narrow my focus to do a few things with quality instead of a lot of things with mediocrity.
I like the very last phrase and closing words of the whole book of Acts,"And no one tried to stop him". (Acts 28:31 NLT) Within those limits and restrictions, there was a measure of freedom to finish the work the Lord had given Paul to do. I want to focus on that freedom with gratitude rather than focus on the limitations with resentment.
