As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
Galatians 4:13,14
When I travel, there are no accidents. I carefully work out each and every detail. The timing and route are painstakingly planned to avoid traffic jams caused by daily rush hour traffic, professional sports events, or even the odd parade.
I also figure out when and where to stop. Which places to eat. How far to drive till it’s time to refill the car. And, most importantly, when and where to make those essential “rest stops.”
I like to figure out what I want, how to get it, where to get it, and then get it. I desperately want to handle all the variables when traveling. But more than just when traveling, I want to be in control of all of life.
Yes, I’m a control freak. Guilty as charged, your honor.
Sound like anyone you know? Someone in your family? Someone you live with? That person inside your head?
But what do you do when everything doesn’t go exactly according to plan? How do you react when the unexpected pops its ugly head out and stares you in the face? What’s your response when an unplanned something happens that throws your carefully made plans out the window?
I’m not going to talk about this anymore because it’s just too depressing and convicting.
One thing I can tell you about the Apostle Paul is that the unexpected absolutely happened in his life. And when it happened, he didn’t explode. He didn’t blow a gasket. He didn’t sulk. He didn’t scream and yell at God or people.
Paul knew that God is God and that nothing was outside his control. When God threw a monkey wrench into his plans, that there was a reason and purpose for it. From God’s perspective It wasn’t an accident.
Paul’s missionary plans apparently didn’t include much time in Galatia. Perhaps his schedule was to preach and run, moving onto a more important area. It came down to this, the only reason he preached there at all is that he got sick.
Yes, Paul was forced to stop traveling, but he wasn’t going to let a little thing like an illness stop him. Even while sick, that wasn’t going to prevent him from talking about the most important person in his life. The sing most significant and radical person in the history of the world.
Paul wasn’t going to let anything stop him from living out his purpose. And what was that purpose? Or, should I say, who was that purpose? His life totally revolved about the person who met him on the road to Damascus.
You see, there was something more important than Paul’s plans and schedule. His plans were not his God. He was flexible about his plans, but he was totally inflexible when it came to following Jesus.
When Jesus meets Paul, he literally knocks him to the ground. And while groveling in the dirt, Jesus speaks.
Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.
Acts 9:6
Jesus doesn’t give him a complete plan while he’s blind and crawling on the ground. Jesus doesn’t outline all the great things he’s going to do for the kingdom of God. Heck, he doesn’t even let Paul in on the secret that he’s going to write great sections of the Bible.
No, none of that is explained. God’s instruction is just for the next step. Go into the city that’s in front of you and you’ll be told what happens next. And guess what – Paul obeyed.
Hearing God’s voice takes time. Knowing God’s plan is a step at a time. But we want instant access to download some app and boom! Instant spirituality and maturity.
But God usually doesn’t work that way. We have to be transformed over time. And that takes time. We have to come to the place where this world no longer is the place we call home. Where we feel comfortable. Where we want to be.
There’s an old hymn that says it so well.
This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up, Somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me, From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home, In this world anymore[1]
Paul was able to let go of his plans and pride in order to gratefully bow before the one who died for him. He was willing to live like he was just passing through because he was. Are you?
[1] This World Is Not My Home, Albert Brumley, J.R. Baxter
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