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Acts 12 - Peter Lives On
Acts 12 - Peter Lives On
I am often perplexed by the events of life. God is still God with all of His knowledge, power, and love of His people. Yet, as God’s people we continue to have adversity in our lives. We have sickness, accidents, anger and wrath against us. Often times all we can do is pray about the situation as things are out of our control. The church in this case made fervent prayer for Peter. God responds by bringing about his release. Many miracles take place to accomplish this.
BUT, in this same time frame, James was martyred! He is not the first among the disciples. Many have been arrested: 3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3) Of these we don’t even have their names recorded. I find it hard to fathom that the church didn’t also pray for them. YET. Wow, this is difficult! YET…
With such a beginning word, we know that the rest of this sentence is not good news. YET – James was allowed to be martyred. Was God unable to save him? Did God not hear prayers for him? Did God not care? We have no revealed answer except in PRINCIPLES that are understood from the whole of the text. Yes, God is ABLE (cp. Eph. 3:20 - able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we might ask or think!) Yes, God cares (cp. 1 Peter 5:7). Such care is the basis of our faithfulness and prayer. YET…
Later, Peter himself faced death and would also die as a martyr for the faith. I still do not understand the reasoning and purpose behind saving one and allowing the other to die. I do know that it “is appointed unto man once to die”. Some now, some later.
Do you realize how comforting the resurrection of Jesus is at such times? WE TOO shall rise. WE TOO shall live – but at that time the body will be changed and glorified and fit to live eternally in the presence of our God. While our initial advice might be “don’t die”, the better exhortation is “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Are you ready?
Hugh DeLong
