Seculum

Acts 24:2–9

“When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.”

The world does not fight fairly. It does not take long for the wicked to realise that nothing really binds them from any moral standard and indeed those who do not believe in God understand that without a transcendent foundation, moral values cannot be objective and universally applicable to all. The world distorts the Truth and so the task is to subject every idea, every statement or proposition to Christ, the very person of Truth itself (John 1:1, 14:6). It is ironic that today we see in the preceding verses, the teachers of the law, energised by their deep desire to maintain socio-political clout over the people distort the truth about the Apostle Paul and Christ, and God Himself—they are against God no matter how noble they make their intentions appear to be. They even flatter the governor ascribing unto him, a man, the peace that they enjoy, not acknowledging God who is ultimately sovereign over all. But us,  when we defend ourselves, what we believe in, the hope that is in us, we do it with gentleness, respect, and humility (I Pet 3:15), we do not deal in lies and bear false witness, because we believe that “for though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (II Cor 10:3-5).” Have faith, there is nothing to fear, if God is for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31)? And finally, if our purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, evil, falsefood, the wicked, the misinformed, will not be able to stop it and they may just even find themselves fighting against God (~Acts 5:38-39). Take heart, brothers and sisters, Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33)!