ACTS 26: LIVING COUNTER-CULTURALLY
When it comes to the Creator God, one of the earliest concepts known to humans is that (having been created in His image to live in His likeness) we’re to love Him with all our heart, soul and might – or, translating “might” to “mind and strength”.[a] But this isn’t because the Creator God is an insecure dependent in need of love. It’s because He is the Faithful God, who keeps His agreements and His lovingkindness to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.[b]
Regardless of how unimportant or few we may be, our Creator God has kept an ancient oath to redeem us from slavery by His mighty Hand.[c] He set His affections on us[d] and has recorded everything in this epic storyline. He did all of this in order to turn “curse” into a blessing.[e] In fact, there’s nothing the Creator requires beyond having a healthy “fear the Lord”, such that it will cause us to walk in all His ways; serving Him with all your heart and soul[f]; listen obediently[g]; remain contrite and careful to keep His commands; hold fast to Him[h]; and not listen to the latest ideas that blow in from the world around us. By this, we will pass our Maker’s “manufacturer’s test”.[i]
HIStory is filled with examples of what encapsulates the above life-style approach. But where the glue really comes unstuck is in my everyday life i.e. how I demonstrate my connection with my Maker as I interact with my environment. Am I willing to swim against the tide? Will I put my community life, my appearance in front of others, and my personal relationships ahead of the One who made me in His image to live like Him?
And so, the curtains in today’s chapter open up on yet another scene from the Creator God’s Epic Play. And, yet again, you may be thinking what on earth has a “defense hearing” before a 1st Century King and Roman Governor [v1-3] to do with you.
Well… for one thing, this isn’t a story about another religion and obeying yet another set of rules as best you can. Paul did that, and those present in today’s chapter couldn’t argue that he was the best at it!! [v4-5] If Paul lived today, he’s likely to be a cross between a Buddhist monk and an Islamic fundamentalist! But this dedication to absolutely every rule, caused him to turn into a religious zealot. Unfortunately, this bigotry turned septic and even violent. [v9-11]
Bizarrely, Paul had become blind to the promises in order to follow the rules! [v6-8] He was sincere, but He was sincerely wrong! Paul’s life needed divine intervention in an incredibly dramatic way. He had to be pulled up short and stopped in his tracks, in what he thought was the right thing to do. [v12-15a] That so, I notice here four things…
Father God doesn’t look back at what we’ve done wrong (or not getting right), He looks forward at what He can do in us. [v16]
Regardless of how bad we’ve been or what horrible mess we’re currently engaged in, and as bad as we may currently be, our Maker promises to rescue us. [v17]
Even if we’re not good enough for the job, our Maker is not hindered by the weaknesses in us because He uses His strengths through us. Paul was spiritually blind to how he had misinterpreted his years of scripture training. Then, physically blinded by the bright light, he was called to “open the eyes” of others!![v18a]
It’s never been about the rules but about “the hope of the promises made by God”.[v6-7] Specifically: (i) forgiveness of sin; and (ii) a place among those “sanctified by faith”. [v18b]
Almost two millenniums had passed by between the days of Moses and the days of Paul in today’s chapter. And yet, what Father God wants from us and what He wants to do for us and through us, has always been the same. So none of these four points here are in any way different to what I laid out at the top of this page. As time goes on however, it’s just said differently and displayed differently as communities and cultures change. [v22b]
Whatever happens, we’re to be obedient to the revelation that God has given to us, just as Paul was. [v19] But if we’re struggling to connect at all with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, then the starting point has always been the same: that we should “repent and turn to God”. We are to make a 180◦ change to our worldview, then demonstrate that level of “regret” by our actions – our lifestyle. [v20] If you are worried that this is far to big a change to make – don’t – because you can get help from Father God’s Holy Spirit. [v22] But why bother? If a 180◦ change in thought, word, and deed is required; and that’s likely to make me different to everyone around me (such that I’m now having to swim counter-culturally against the tides of everything I’ve ever known), why would I do that to myself?
The answer goes right back to the beginning of this epic storyline. In The Beginning, we had what the Indigenous Australians called The Dreamtime – the dawn of Creation. In the Creator God’s preserved record, we know it as the Garden of Eden. Most of us know the story: that Adam & Eve ate some fruit and got kicked out of their utopian haven. But many people miss something incredible vital in the storyline…
Although we were created mortal, we had full and free access without any restrictions to the Tree of Life.[j] If permanent access to the Tree of Life had been maintained, it would have given us untold years of continual LIFE. In this way, we have no idea how long Adam and Eve lived BEFORE the wheels came off. What we clearly do know though, is that only one tree would poison us – the “fruit” (the product or outcome) that stems from personally “knowing” (intimately interacting with) good and evil. If Sir Francis Bacon was right and “knowledge is power”, then the knowledge of evil is the power to be evil or be hurt by evil. It was only in our poisoned state, that we became held back from access to continual life. Our Maker didn’t want us living forever while infected with knowledge/power of evil within us. [k] We had to be banished from our utopian haven where our Creator God walks about, and this for our protection and the protection of everything around us.
If that makes sense, then here’s the good news: Father God has been orchestrating (planning/coordinating) a Global rescue plan to restore all things, and this also from The Beginning.[l] It’s this Global MasterPlan that Paul is testifying to in today’s chapter [v23]; and it’s this, that makes me put up with my uphill climb now, in order to gain the LIFE that Paul said is to come.
But some who read this today, may think I’m mad just as Paul was thought to be. [v24-25] Others will withdraw from this website because they don’t want me to “convert them” so quickly. [v28] But either way, few can escape this ancient storyline today because it’s not only enduring, it’s very public. [v26] The question that is crucial even today is whether or not I’m willing to be different, think differently, see things differently, live counter-culturally, and believe my Creator and His Word. [v27] In everything I do, everywhere I move, no matter who I’m with, I want my eyes to be on HIM…
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[a] Deuteronomy 6:5 (See also Matthew 22:37 & Mark 12:30)
[b] Deuteronomy 7:9
[c] Deuteronomy 7:7-8
[d] Deuteronomy 10:15
[e] Deuteronomy 23:5;30:16 (Put into the context Genesis c3 & Revelation c21-22)
[f] Deuteronomy 10:12 & 11:1
[g] Deuteronomy 11:13
[h] Deuteronomy 11:22
[i] Deuteronomy 13:3 (See also Ephesians 4:14)
[j] Genesis 2:8-9,15-17
[k] Genesis 3:22
[l] Genesis 3:15b