Zoom has introduced us to the virtual waiting room. Hopefully, the host of the conference lets us in. Are you in God’s waiting room? Do you ever pray with the Psalmist and with the martyrs in the book of Revelation, “How long, O Lord?” We are all waiting. What shall we do while we wait?
Paul waited for his trial in Rome over two years. “The wheels of justice turn slowly . . .” Court processes move at a glacial pace, sometimes. But the apostle did not live in prison. Instead, Paul rented his own house and stayed there. How did that work? Apparently under a form of house arrest, he could receive guests, but he could not leave Rome on his own accord. During that time, many came to see him and he welcomed all of them.
What did Paul do for two years? He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, with all boldness and without hindrance. Living in Rome, under the nose of the Emperor, while proclaiming Jesus as Lord and King required great boldness. Paul never lacked courage. Nobody hindered him for those two years.
The gospel is unstoppable. Luke has shown us the fulfillment of Jesus’ commission to his disciples to become his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. The good news of Jesus arrived in Rome in the heart of a converted Pharisee. Paul preached the unstoppable gospel freely in the capital city of the world.
While we spend so much of our lives waiting, we may bear witness to the good news of Jesus, our Lord and King. For some reason, our world seems much more interested in our current political leaders than in our eternal King. History has shown that Jesus has more to do with the lives of people on this earth than all the human rulers combined. He deserves our undivided attention. Jesus is mighty to save. We can’t wait another minute to tell the world this good news.
