Dear friend,
Do you have unfulfilled longings in your service to your King? Are there places you have wanted to go? Gifts you have wanted to employ more fully? Exploits for the Kingdom in which you have longed to engage? Stop for a moment. Think about it. What are those “must-do’s” that you carry in your heart?
The Apostle Paul was a man who had many strong desires in his service to the kingdom of his Savior. Whereas he did experience the joy of seeing many of these desires come to fruition, there were some that remained unfulfilled. But he never quit longing and hoping.
Near the beginning of his letter to the Romans, the Apostle says, “I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles” (1:13) Then as he nears the end of his letter, the longing of his heart pours out again: “I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions [in the east] and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.” He says that he must first fulfill a relief mission for the poor in Jerusalem. Then he adds these words of confident expectation: “I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.” (15:22-29)
Well, we don’t know for certain that Paul made it to Spain (though the writings of certain early authors claim that he did), but we do know that he made it to Rome. His longing to see the brothers and sisters in Rome and serve them and enjoy their company was fulfilled!
Why was Paul’s desire regarding Rome at last fulfilled? Because of prayer – his prayers and the prayers of the saints in Rome! Paul asked the Roman brethren to pray with him: “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may by acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.” (15:30-32) They all prayed, and God answered!
However, the answer to prayer came in a way that was quite different than that which Paul probably expected. Yes, he arrived in Rome, but it was as a prisoner – a prisoner who had been beaten by an angry mob in Jerusalem, arrested and tried by Roman authorities, and, upon his appeal to Caesar, had been sent on an extremely arduous trip to Rome – a voyage that included shipwreck in the midst of a killer “typhonic” storm whose waves cast Paul and his fellow survivors upon the shores of a small Mediterranean island where they remained for three long months before at last they were able to board another ship. What a difficult and dangerous journey. But Paul had received special words from God!
On the night following his trial before the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, the Roman soldiers had brought him into their barracks for fear that Paul “would be torn to pieces” by the Jews. During that night, Paul received a visit from God: “. . . the Lord stood at his side” and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly testified to My cause in Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” (Acts 23:11) Later in the midst of the great storm at sea, Paul received more words of reassurance – this time from an angel, who came to him on the ship at night and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul, you must stand before Caesar . . . .” (Acts 27:23)
Paul was confident. He knew that every apparent encumbrance was in fact a steppingstone to Rome! Right now I am trying to see him and think of how he felt as he walked, possibly in chains, up that final stretch of the Appian Way to Rome!
Dear friend, as I close this letter, my prayer is that our Lord will fill your heart with mighty reassurances regarding the desires of your heart in your service to Him and His Church. You may arrive at your points of service in unexpected ways, very possibly through some storms, but He will get you to every place and every work that He has prepared for you. But – if you don’t make it to “Spain”, He has reasons for that too. For now, whatever you do, keep on praying (and asking others to pray) and longing and hoping!
“I have longed for many years . . . I will”
Rod (for Bec and me)
