David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 14:14-28

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ¹⁶ In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

¹⁹ But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰ But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³ And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶ and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they remained no little time with the disciples.

I don’t often criticize other churches or pastors. I have enough on my own plate not to take on solving someone else’s troubles. But what little I saw of Joel Osteen’s response to the shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston left me feeling really sorry for him and the people of his church. Admittedly, when I heard him speak it was only shortly after the shooting. But his message was tepid: something to the effect, “We’re gonna stay strong. We’re going to carry on.” How sad.

Contrast that with Pastor Al Meredith at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth after a terrible shooting at his church years ago. Seven youth and adults were shot and killed that night in 1999. Another 7 were wounded. When Pastor Meredith was interviewed on camera, he quoted the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” The passage concludes, “GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” – Habakkuk 3:17-19

This is an acknowledgement that strength comes from God; we do not have it in us to be strong. We must always rely on God. We do that especially when times are bad. Not only so, we continue to praise him in the storm.

Paul and Barnabas conclude their mission trip by visiting churches they had initially visited on the front end of their mission trip. And they urge these new believers to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

I’m not a nattering nabob of negativism. But neither am I willing to pretend that evil does not exist, or that Satan does not have evil designs on God’s people. God invites us always to turn to him – in good times or bad. C.S. Lewis said that pain is God’s megaphone to the world. Through pain God calls us away from self-reliance to faith and trust in him.

God has shown that such faith and trust is well placed by two things. First of all, he came to our rescue in Jesus of Nazareth who taught and did good, ushering in the kingdom of God, and ultimately sacrificing himself for us lost sinners. That shows God’s good will toward us. But he also rose from the dead. God’s intent toward us is not merely an impotent good will. He is mighty to save.

We may have to go through much trouble and tribulation to enter the kingdom of God. But our entry is assured, and his salvation is gloriously good.