“And
so we came to Rome.” Acts 28:14
The Apostle Paul, his companions, and the ship’s
crew stayed on the island of Malta for three months. After the danger of winter had passed, they “put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and
Pollux”(Acts 28:11). But even after all this delay, their trip was not a
non-stop sail to Rome. They harbored and
hung out at Syracuse for three days; they arrived at Rhegium and anchored; the
next day they were blown by a south wind to Puteoli where they “found some brothers who invited them to
spend a week with them” (Acts 28:14).
And so finally, after many stops, storm, shipwreck, snakebite, south
wind, smooth sailing, and side trip, “we
came to Rome”(Acts 28:15).
If God’s purpose for Paul’s journey had been only
the destination, the trip could nearly be declared a disaster and certainly
described as a debacle, but the purpose of the journey isn’t just about being
there; it’s a lot about getting there. I
write these words with a heavy heart as I grieve with the family of dear friend
whose earth-journey ended yesterday morning.
By God’s grace, he was perfectly prepared to arrive at his final
destination, and though the timing seems many years too soon on our end, our
friend left a lot of legacy while “getting there.”
He loved his lady with a strong and steadying
passion. He held her and helped her
through the loss of parents, friends, and several unborn babies. He delighted in the birth of their only child
and was pouring his life into shaping their son to be a Godly man. Words were not many with my friend, but when
he spoke, he said much. He served, led, and
prayed for his church, and he loved Jesus in real life. One quality I will always remember is that he
never seemed to be in a hurry—with his actions, attitudes, or responses. He didn’t rush the journey, but simply
accepted each stage as it came and made the most of it. Some might say that such an outlook means you
don’t do much, but, actually, it means you don’t miss much. My friend did not.
Our journey to heaven is not a non-stop sail, and
we are not told our arrival time. But
this is what we know: we’re on the right
boat, we will encounter stops, storms, shipwrecks, snakebites, south wind,
smooth sailing, and several side trips along the way, and at just the right
time (for our God is never wrong), we will safely and securely reach our final
destination. As you travel, remember
that it’s not just about being there, it’s a lot about getting there.
God will get you
where you’re supposed to go.
Don’t miss the much
along the way.
When
this happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.” Acts 28:9
Word gets
around. But which word? Usually the negative, but the positive gets
passed on as well—if we’ll talk.
Someone on Malta did. After a poisonous snakebite caused him no
harm, Paul was hailed as a “god” and welcomed to the home of Publius, the
island’s chief official. For three days
Paul was “entertained hospitably,”
but he did more than just eat and drink.
He healed the official’s father who was “sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer,
placed his hands on him and healed him. When this happened, the rest of the
sick on the island came and were cured”(Acts 28:8-9). The only way the “rest of the sick on the island” knew to come and be cured was that
they heard about the miraculous healing of Publius’ dad. Somebody (or much more likely, somebodies)
was/were talking—spreading the word that something wonderful had happened. Because those who knew the truth were willing
to tell the truth, many were blessed.
Don’t keep your mouth
shut when God does something wonderful.
Good news gets
around. Share some today.
“Paul
gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out
by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.”
Acts 28:3
Shipwreck or Snakebite?? Which would you choose? As we offer a collective, “Neither!” we hear
Paul answer back, “How ‘bout both?”
Safely on shore after surviving a terrible storm,
Paul was trying to be helpful when he encountered a serpent. The inhabitants of Shipwreck Island (actually
known at Malta) had welcomed the soaked sailors with “unusual kindness” and built a fire because it was raining and
cold(Acts 28:2). “Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a
viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand”(Acts 28:3).
Immediately everyone thought the worst—Paul would
die and he deserved it. “When the islanders saw the snake hanging
from his hand they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though
he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live’”(Acts 28:4). The words from their mouths would have been
in our minds, but the dangling reptile didn’t faze Paul at all. He simply shook off the snake and kept on
ticking. And everyone else kept on
waiting and watching, sure that Paul would “swell
up or suddenly fall dead”(Acts 28:6). When he didn’t, the islanders changed
their minds and declared him deity!
Shipwrecks, snakebites, assumed justice, and
miraculous “just fine.” This crazy story
should do more than make us chuckle and shake our heads; it should strengthen
our hearts—especially if we’re the ones still dripping with sea water and
already feeling the fangs. Troubles
sometimes come on top of each other, and just when we think we’re safe, we’re
slammed again. We can’t always do as Paul did and just
shake it off and feel no ill effects(Acts 28:5), but we can be certain that as
we trust God and rely on His strength, those who are watching and waiting to
see what will happen won’t be able to miss His divine and miraculous power in
our lives.
Don’t live in fear of
shipwrecks or snakes. Or both.
They are simply parts
of the journey where God shows His power.
