Not Knowing

For this week’s meditation I direct your attention to Acts 20:22-24:

Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

As our beloved apostle Paul made his way to Jerusalem, he did so not knowing the things that would happen to him there. He knew that bonds and afflictions awaited him, but as to when, how, or how much those bonds and afflictions would be, he knew not. He did not let it bother him that he knew there would be some tough times ahead. Neither was he bothered by the fact that he did not know the details of the time, manner, and extent of these afflictions that would befall him. As he said: “None of these things move me.” Neither was he moved by the possibility that those afflictions could mean his death, for he did not count his life dear unto himself. People who do not count their life in this world dear to themselves don’t worry about things like people who do set so much on this life. People like Paul know that this life is just a transit to something better. They do not view this as the only life they will ever have. The thing that most concerned Paul was finishing his course with joy and the ministry that he received of the Lord Jesus. Paul was more concerned about doing God’s work than he was with what was going to happen to him. Whenever he came to the end of his life, he wanted to be able to look back and know that he had done all that the Lord had given him to do. And herein Paul set a wonderful example for us.

Like Paul, we know that “afflictions abide us.” The following verses assure us of this.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But as for when, how, and how much these tribulations shall be, we do not know. We are in the same predicament as Paul and the Scriptures tell us as much.

Proverbs 27:1 ¶Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.

This much you can know: there are troublesome times ahead of us. My pastor friend Dr. Larry Lilly wrote the following in his daily letter of 29 September 2008:

The sum total of courageous living has to do with getting over past storms, living through current ones and continuing on in the knowledge that more storms will come. God enters this panorama of life in the storm, walks on the waters of the storms as it were, and we learn that He is there. Walking with the Lord teaches us to trust in the darkest hour, somehow singing though the tears that scald our cheeks.

You do not know the time, the manner, or the extent of your future troubles, but you know they are coming. Does that bother you? If so, why? Are the things that happen to you or may happen to you the things that concern you most? Or are you more concerned about fulfilling the will of God?

So the advice I would pass on to you from this lesson is to stay the course of keeping the commandments of God, which are the will of God for you. Let that be your chief focus as opposed to what may happen in the future. The word of God tells you that you do not know what shall be on the morrow. And the word of God does not instruct you to try to find out. If you hear a voice or see a vision of things coming in the future, rebuke it. Your Bible says you do not know. I would rather have Scriptural ignorance of the future than occult insights into it. You do not need to know the future to know God’s will. All you need to know is that tough times are ahead and that God will see you through them. Your chief concern should be to learn the commandments of God written in your Bible and do them. Like Paul, you can go forth not knowing what shall befall you. It is sufficient that you know the Lord Who knows and Who has promised to be with you as you do His work, which should ever be your chief concern.