Paul lived his life with passion. He knew the scriptures and loved them. He sought to rid the world of the Jesus followers he perceived to be the evil ones.
I've always said that God saw Paul's passion and knew he needed him on His team. Paul's encounter on the road to Damascus was a game changer. Paul got traded that day to the Jesus team. It would change not only his life, but his ministry would echo into eternity.
Paul was well connected. He knew people and he knew people who knew people. He knew how to operate on the political scene. He knew how to operate around the Sanhedrin. He was smart as a whip, but more than that... Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. He exuded wisdom as he wrote letters to a young church. People of all ages discovered "The Way", but the church... as one body in Christ was young. They made mistakes. The truth is... we still make mistakes.
"If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” -Acts 25:11
Saul was a rule follower. After conversion, he was known as Paul. He was a completely changed man. He went from celebrating the death and persecution of the followers of Christ, to becoming one of them. He went from celebrating their judgement to being freed from the burden of the fear of death.
Saul watched kind and wise Stephen die. He was smug as they killed Stephen. (Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. -Acts 8:1)
Saul thought Stephen was getting what he deserved, judged by the High Council... the church leaders. After conversion, Saul/ Paul lived boldly for the gospel. How often did he think back to the day Stephen died?
Did he think of Stephen as he penned these words to the Philippians?
"For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." -Philippians 1:19-21
We do not know all of his thoughts, but we can glimpse the depth of his faith and fearlessness in knowing that this life is but a tick and a tock on a dimensionally limited clock. Our God is not limited by these things.
Our brother, Jesus, bought our ticket to heaven. He is waiting. He is our "advocate before the Father", an answer to Job's prayer in his suffering. (Job 9:33-35 and 1 John 2:1) We can live as a free people.
Freedom!
Today, I am grateful we do not need to fear death.
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