Acts 21.13 13 But he said, “Why are you crying and making
me so sad? I am not only ready to be tied up in Jerusalem, I am ready to die
for the Lord Jesus!” (NCV)
In Acts 21, we begin to see a change in the direction
of the wind so to speak: things are about to be very different for the Apostle
Paul (whose life has been different since he miraculously entered the ministry from
sitting on his butt on the Damascus Road (see Acts 9)). There is danger in
Jerusalem for Paul and everyone knows it. But Paul addressed the concerns of
his friends by saying: “I am not only
ready to be tied up in Jerusalem, I am ready to die for the Lord Jesus!” Tied up in Jerusalem was the least of
his problems.
I read a quote one day that goes:
If there’s a remedy when trouble strikes,
What reason is there for dejection?
And if there is no help for it,
What use is there in being glum?
That’s a great statement! What’s the big deal with death? If there is a God, why worry about
death? If there is no God, what then is the use in fretting about death? At some point
all of us must realize that what is going to happen is going to happen and
there isn’t much we can do about it. The other side of that coin is this: God is in charge of every moment of our
lives, and because He is what reason is there for dejection?
Many fear death because they don’t know what is going to
happen to then when they go, or how they’re going to get there when the moment
arrives. If it’s to be a fiery car crash or a tragic accident, then it’s going
to be – and if God is in charge, so what! (Or, rather, so be it!) Paul said something
like: “Lookit folks, if all of my
ministry and effort culminates in my being killed, then so be it – I will love
and serve and trust the Lord for the outcome! (Now, quit pestering me about
what is going to happen, trust God, and let whatever happens, happen!)” The
other question for us may be: If all of our love and energy for the Lord results
in our dying for the Lord is that bad - or failure?
The big deal with death is that most of us are afraid of it. We’re afraid for our loved ones;
we’re afraid of being missed; we’re afraid of how the ministry will continue
without us. But the silliness of all this fear and worry is the reality that all of us are going to die some time or other,
and some way or other; there just ain’t no stopping it. So, if we die in
the Lord: GREAT!
Being afraid of death is a waste of time: if there is no
God, what’s the use in fearing death? Ah, but there is a God; and a better use
of your and my time is to serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and
strength letting the chips fall (whatever they include, and however they are
played) where they may – it’s gonna happen anyway!
Father, You are in control of everything in our lives –
we must not fear. Help me to say with Paul, “I am not only ready to be tied up
in my own life, but I am also ready to die for the Lord Jesus!” Thank You
Father – Amen!
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