Acts 19:21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”
Acts 21:10-14 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
Acts 23:11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
As we follow the story of Paul through the Bible we see something remarkable. He had a single-minded drive that pushed him ever closer to the goals that God set for him. Yes. God sets goals for each of us and then we work toward them. Paul wished, above all else, to obey God’s will. In the process, he was beaten, rendered unconscious when they stoned him and then left for dead, ship-wrecked, snake-bitten, chained and flogged. He suffered hunger, privation, sickness and a degree of fatigue that we can only imagine. Paul knew what his goals were and every step he took lead him closer to them. After years in the mission field, God revealed to Paul that He wanted to send him to bear witness in Jerusalem and then in Rome. From that point in time onward Paul spent all of his energy accomplishing those goals. And at the end of that long, multi-year ordeal we see something miraculous. In Philippians 4:22, we read, “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” Now let’s stop and think about just how astounding that statement really is! This wasn’t like paying a visit to the White House and preaching to the staff there. At that time, Nero was Caesar over all the Roman empire and he was a perverted, psychotic, genocidal maniac. Among a very long list of other things, he murdered his mother, executed his step-brother and had hundreds of Christians dipped in oil and set on fire while still alive to provide light for his parties at night. Today Nero would be wearing a strait-jacket and would be confined to the deepest, darkest corner of an insane asylum. But back then he ruled the Roman Empire. So when Paul sent greetings from the Christians in Caesar’s household it was no small thing. In fact, Paul went willingly into the heart of Satan’s territory and preached the Gospel and some in that demon’s household even became Christians. God told Paul what his will for him was and Paul worked fearlessly and diligently to get to that point. Unlike Jonah, Paul willingly took every step God laid out for him. Paul had a choice and so do we. Paul had a path and so do we. Paul had a goal and so do we.
Now let’s turn our attention to someone who was even more determined to obey God’s will.
Luke 13:31-33 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
Jesus had an appointment with the cross and walked willingly toward it. God’s goal for his son, Jesus was the check-mate move for the plan of salvation and Jesus singlemindedly worked his way toward that goal. Let’s be clear – Jesus was not a puppet on strings. He had a mind of his own. He had a choice. He had a path. He had a goal. He consciously decided to walk the path toward the goals and in that way was obedient to His Father’s will. And it was not a begrudging obedience either. He earnestly desired to reach that moment in time!
Luke 22:14-15 says, “And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”
Jesus knew he would be nailed to a cross the very next day after that meal and yet he still looked forward to that meal, we might even say, with eagerness and excitement! He earnestly desired that meal with his friends and disciples. He didn’t HAVE to go to Jerusalem. He CHOSE to go to Jerusalem knowing the entire time what awaited him there!! He knew his Father’s will and he planned every step to take him closer to that moment. The cross lay ahead for Jesus and he walked willingly toward it. He knew where he was going and he had a plan for how to get there.
Do we know where we are going? Where is OUR Jerusalem? Where is OUR Rome? Do we know how to get there? Do we have plans in place that will take us to that point in time? Do we know God’s will for our lives? Like Jesus and Paul, we are not puppets on strings. God guides our steps but it is we who have to pick our feet up and put them down with each step. We have minds of our own and we have to CHOOSE to follow the PATH that leads us to the GOALS God has set for us. In simple terms, we have to prayerfully sit down, think about God’s will for our lives and then join the race that will get us there. We make plans, formulate strategies, educate ourselves and most importantly, we learn how to keep our eye on the goal no matter what a fallen world throws at us.
So how do I determine God’s will – his goals – for my life? Do I draw lots or consult a prophet? How do you determine God’s will for your life? What is my goal, what is your goal? Fortunately, it isn’t that difficult to learn God’s will for each of us. In fact, we turn to the Holy Spirit. And no, I’m not talking about listening for a voice in the back of our minds or waiting for a feeling in the back of our hearts although that might happen from time to time. I’m talking about listening to what the Holy Spirit has already said.
Revelations 22:17 says, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit says “come!” The bride, which is the church, says “Come!” And the scripture then changes its tone to state an imperative. When a king or ship’s captain says “let it be done” that’s an imperative! This verse says: let the one who hears say “Come!” The one who hears. That’s each individual Christian. It is referring to those of us who have heard the Gospel and responded to it. LET THE ONE WHO HEARS say “Come!” Our necessity, our imperative, our command from the Ship’s Captain is to invite dying people to take the free gift of the water of life. This is not optional!
God’s clarion call to salvation is delivered by the Holy Spirit. God’s precious call to redemption is delivered by the Church. And it is God’s will that the invitation to eternal life be delivered by every individual Christian. let the one who hears say “Come!” It cannot be any more plain or any more simple than that. God’s will for each of us is right there in plain sight for all to see.
Jesus earnestly desired to have that final Passover meal with his disciples knowing full well that His finish line for the plan of salvation came the very next day. Every step he took toward that meal and toward Jerusalem brought him that much closer to HIS finish line for the plan of Salvation. And he purposely took each step in that direction with expectation, anticipation and earnest desire. Let us consider what brought him to that moment. He made a choice to walk a path that lead him toward God’s goal for him.
In Luke 13:33 Jesus said, “I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.” Jesus had a plan to reach the finish line God had set for him. Friends, time is short. Let the one who hears say, “Come!” What is your plan to reach your goal of inviting dying people to drink freely from the water of life?
Keeping Watch 