Originally posted 12-01-2009. Reposted 12-14-2010.
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Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.
~Acts 28:30-31 (MSG)
What a strange way to end the book of Acts. Paul has been taken to Rome as a prisoner but his imprisonment isn’t all that bad. He’s under house arrest, but he gets to live pretty comfortably in a rented house and welcome visitors. The end. Weird.
Christian tradition tells us that Paul was beheaded in Rome, around the mid 60s A.D. which seems to be a pretty dramatic change from living in rented home with friendly visitors. Wow. We just can’t predict how things will turn out. I’m both greatly encouraged and disconcerted by the end of Paul’s earthly story.
I’m encouraged because Paul was delivered from imprisonment directly into paradise. He was immediately transported from captivity into the mansion Christ Jesus had prepared for him. His suffering ended, and he stepped into the glory of eternity.
Yet I’m disconcerted by this ending because it’s not neatly packaged. Paul had plans and dreams of reaching Caesar for Christ, but we never hear in Acts what happens. Rather, most scholars agree that Nero had Paul killed and then later Nero died an insane pagan. Like I said before: weird.
I have dreams and plans for my life here on earth. I have dreams and plans for my family, my career, and my ministry. Yet I know that ultimately I must surrender those dreams to the sovereign will of God. Like Jesus, I must pray, “Lord, Your will be done”.
I must adjust my perspective to align with God’s. God’s endings are not the endings we would always choose, but in truth we can know that God’s endings aren’t endings at all. Rather they are transitions; they are simply pauses in the action while the page is turned to the next chapter. God’s endings, as such, are set ups for beginnings.
Lord, help me trust in you through life’s endings, transitions, and beginnings.
Great blog! I sense a transition coming for me and not really sure how or even why. Your blog encourages me for the season that is coming. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading Makeda. Ipray that your transition goes smoothly!