A Matter of Trust

by Pat Lee

(Based on Matt 19:23-30; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Acts 9:1-22)

God tells Jeremiah that before he was born, he had been set apart and chosen to be his prophet. Jeremiah found this piece of news rather alarming, as he thought he was far too young for such as an important task. But God doesn’t take his protest as an answer, and tells Jeremiah that he needn’t be afraid. He gives him the assurance that he needs and tells him that he will have his protection; and then gives him his instructions for the task ahead.
I think Jeremiah might have found all this rather overwhelming. I know I would have. However, God does not call anyone to a task he/she cannot do, because he equips us with all we need to accomplish it. It’s just a matter of trust.

On to the passage from Acts.
First, a little background on Paul, or Saul, as he was originally known. The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) came from a devout, prominent Jewish family in Tarsus, the capital of a small Roman district (now in modern Turkey). He was of the tribe of Benjamin and was the holder of rare Roman citizenship from birth, which gave him significant legal rights. Raised strictly observant, he became a zealous Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” with deep knowledge of Jewish law. (Which prepared him uniquely for his subsequent mission to the Gentiles.)

When Paul set out for Damascus that day he had only one plan on his mind.
He had been to the high priest to get letters to take with him, intending to take them to the synagogues in Damascus to get their cooperation to arrest any of the followers of ‘the Way’, as Christians, or Believers, were referred to at that time. He just wanted to get rid of them. Remember, this was the same man who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, as written in the previous chapter of Acts, agreeing with his killing. You can almost imagine Paul standing there grinning with satisfaction as he watched on.

However, God had a different plan for Paul. So, as he was approaching Damascus, set on his mission, he experienced an amazing event. A light appeared and a voice spoke to him, Jesus’s voice. Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul did not know who was speaking to him, but Jesus told him who he was and what he needed him to do. His companions also heard the voice but didn’t see anyone, and they were speechless.

When Paul got up he couldn’t see, so his companions had to lead him to Damascus where he stayed for three days without eating or drinking. I can’t help wondering what was going on in Paul’s mind during that time. Did he wonder if Jesus was going to help him accomplish his lettered task? Well, if he was thinking that, he was certainly in for a surprise, because that plan was going to invert dramatically. He was about to change direction completely.

Someone else was about to have his plans changed as well. The Scripture tells us about Ananias, already a believer. In spite of having no mobile phone, social media or anything remotely similar, word about Paul had reached him. He knew that Paul had done terrible things to believers in Jerusalem, and that he was authorised to arrest anyone who called on the name of Jesus. Put yourself in Ananias’s shoes. How would you have reacted to being asked to go to this man and lay hands on him, to make him see again?

Once again we see that when called to a task, we will be supported and protected, and equipped to carry it out. Ananias did as he had been asked, trusting that Jesus would be on his side. He laid hands on Paul and affirmed to him that he had been sent by Jesus, so that Paul would regain his sight. And he did. Then Paul was baptised. Now that was definitely not in Paul’s original plan; nor was what followed a few days later when he started preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

What a dramatic change of plan that was.

It’s no wonder that all who heard him were amazed, because they also knew of Paul’s reputation, and that he had come to Damascus to arrest them, chain them, and take them back to the priests in Jerusalem.

God calls each of us to become believers in a way that best suits each individual. There is no right or wrong way, just God’s way.

My conversion was dramatic too, but not the same as Paul’s. I needed a metaphorical hit on the head with a four-by-two to get my attention. One beautiful May morning while sitting on my back porch having a cup of tea with a friend, my life changed completely and I made an about turn.

When I look back to that day, I can see how much I have changed from then until now.
I started a journey that I had know idea where it would lead, but I trusted that God would take me where he wanted me to be. It hasn’t been plain sailing and I know I’m still far from perfect, but my journey goes on.

My husband, Michael, knew when he came home from work that day that something had happened to me. He didn’t want a bar of it.
Those next few months were very difficult to say the least, but I hung in there. I believed that God would change his heart too, but didn’t know how long it was going to take.

Michael was transferred to another town with his work while I stayed back with the children to finish the school year. That gave him time to gather all the books he could find, including a Bible, to prove that my experience was not valid. He was an avid reader. God used that to show Michael that what had happened to me was definitely valid, and he too became a believer. That was the start of a completely new plan for his life, as well as mine.

Today’s Gospel reading follows on from the passage about a rich young ruler who wanted to know what good deed he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and follow him. The rich young man went away sad because he had many possessions. Jesus’s response to his disciples was to say that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
Incidentally, the Eye of the Needle is a narrow passageway through the Jerusalem wall that was used after the city gates were closed for the night. Camels did not like going in through this very narrow, confined space.

So, the disciples asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?” Jesus answered, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Jeremiah thought it was impossible for him to become a prophet. The people of Damascus thought it was impossible for Paul to become a believer. Ananias thought it was impossible for him to go to Paul and lay hands on him without his being arrested and put in chains. Once I became a believer, I thought it was impossible for my husband to become one too. But as we all know, these things did happen because nothing is impossible for God. God can change anyone, and he can change our hearts toward anyone, and can do anything else if it is his will.

Some seemingly impossible tasks in the Bible include: God creating the whole universe and everything in it in six days, Moses building the Ark on dry land miles from any large area of water and with no rain in sight. The Israelites leaving Egypt, where they were slaves. A shepherd boy becoming king. A virgin giving birth to the Son of God. Ordinary people like you and me giving up their jobs to become the disciples of Jesus and, becoming his close friends. Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two small fish. Thousands of people being healed of their afflictions. The Bible is full of examples.

If you have not already chosen to follow Jesus because you think it’s too hard, think again. Anyone can, because God gives you the ability to do so and will support and equip you through anything he asks you to do. Just trust him. He won’t let you down.

Heavenly Father, we all don’t just become first-rate followers when you call us. We don’t always understand where you are leading us or how we are going to get there. But we know that no matter how many times we fail, you are always ready to give us another chance. Thank you for entrusting us in the ongoing work you have for each of us. Help us to remember that whatever the task is, you will enable us to complete it, because nothing is impossible for you. Amen.