A Future Unknown

ACTS 20:1-38 (June 30)

Have you been there? That point in your life where you know God is calling you to something, but you aren't sure what it is. All you know is that if God is calling you to it, he will see you through it.

I felt that way when I moved to Texas last year. It was hard to leave family behind. It was difficult to move away from my special friends, the ones who kept me encouraged and moving forward.

But I knew that God was calling me to take a leap of faith. I was aware that he was walking with me on my journey, and that he would be there if I stumbled.

I also knew that some of it might not be easy, in fact, it might be a real struggle. (I can't tell you how lonely it is without your special people). But even when we know the future may be hard, we can have faith that God will see us through if we are being obedient to him.

That is where I found myself last summer. That is where Paul finds himself as he left for Macedonia, traveling and making stops along the way. His planned route back to Jerusalem was altered after he found out about a planned attack on his life. So, he made his way back through Ephesus, after many stops along the way to preach, teach, and even heal a man injured in a fall.

Paul had no intention of stopping in Ephesus. He had endured quite a bit of trials in the three years he had been there, thanks to the Jews who continuously plotted against him. But he did realize that this would probably be his last trip through this area, so he sent for the elders of the church so that he could see them one last time and say goodbye.

"And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

Paul is aware in his spirit that trouble and pain lie ahead for him, but he also knows that he had to finish the work that God had placed before him. Because of his faith in God, he was able to do this, knowing he would never be alone. He would always have the Lord with him, through every trial and trouble.

Paul goes on to remind them that he has given them all the knowledge they could ever need to know the Lord, and if any should suffer death without salvation, it would not be his fault. He had done in Ephesus what God had asked him to do.

He warned them to be on guard, to be generous and giving to one another, helping each other. He warned about false teachers, even amongst the leaders, who would rise up and distort the truth in order to gain fame and power.

He gave them over to God, saying, "And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself."

And finally, he shared one of the most famous lines in all of Scripture: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Before leaving, he knelt and prayed with them. They cried and embraced him, knowing they would never see him again.

How hard it is to leave those you love and care for. I have been there and done that. Have you?

Paul's heart must have been hurting as he said goodbye to the people he had invested so much time, energy and tears in.

He was ready to go forward towards the continuation of his calling. He was walking into a Future Unknown, but he was walking with God, so he didn't need to know.

I don't know what unknows are in my future, or yours. I don't have a clue what trials may lie ahead as we navigate life on this crazy earth. But I do know that God is with us...each of us.

He is there when we see clear evidence of him. He is there when we see no evidence at all. He never leaves us, never forsakes us, even when the road is scary, painful, or filled with sorrow.

All he requires is that we put our trust in him, believing in his message, and living life according to his words. When we do that, we can rest assure that he is with us, even as we walk into a Future Unknown.