Saturday, Melanie and I enjoyed being in the President’s box for the Homecoming football game at Baylor. We have been there before, but it was a great honor to be invited back (and I like the renovation). My brother found a course catalog at our high school in Germany and decided to go to Baylor back in 1977. So many of us have now followed in his footsteps. I am grateful.
Early in my ministry, President Herbert Reynolds invited a group of ministers to meet him for a formal dinner. As a recent graduate of Baylor, I thought I had received the invitation by accident. What does one say to a President? If only I had attended cotillion! Although I was nervous, I have not forgotten his kindness, nor that of his successors, including President Linda Livingstone. I am grateful.
Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room to hear from the Apostle Paul. Military officers and prominent businessman stood there in the presence of the Roman Governor Festus and King Herod Agrippa. Do you know the protocol for those who enter the presence of royalty? I do not, but I am sure that I would make a mistake. Because of his arrest, Paul would get to stand before kings and emperors to proclaim the gospel. When Paul met King Herod Agrippa and Queen Bernice, was he nervous?
Festus invited Agrippa to hear Paul so that he might craft a statement to send with Paul to Rome. As a Roman citizen, Paul had exercised his right to appeal to Caesar. Festus was ready to send him but didn’t know how to explain the reason he was sending Paul. The religious leaders had brought Paul to the attention of Felix and Festus, but they saw no reason to hold him. So Paul stood before these powerful people as the Lord had foretold to Ananias upon Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:15).
I doubt that Paul was afraid. He had long before settled that his life was about Christ. Death would be gain. Secular authorities held no fear for the great apostle. On the road to Damascus, Paul had met the Lord of life. Once you encounter the Lord, every earthly authority, including a king or President of a country is small by comparison. Someone wrote of the Scottish reformer John Knox, “he feared God so much he never feared any man.” May God make us fearless today as we serve the Lord of life. Let us be respectful to authorities, but never afraid. They are not in charge of the world. Jesus is!
