As people in Ephesus heard the gospel and received Christ, their lives were radically changed for the better. However, not everyone was happy with the changes. It resulted in a loss of revenue for the metalworkers who fashioned small idols of the goddess Diana. Because she was no longer worshiped, the clientele of the metalworkers was decimated, and their tourism income was also reduced. Mad, one of the craftsmen, Demetrius, instigated a mob to oppose the apostle (Acts 19:24). When Paul recounted his experiences to Timothy, he mentioned that another of the troublemakers was Alexander (2 Timothy 4:14).
It reminds me of what I heard about a revival in Portland, Oregon around the turn of the twentieth century. So many people were coming to Christ that many of the bars lost their customers and had to close. The bar owners, unless they had also received Christ, could have been critical of Christianity because it resulted in a loss of their livelihoods.
When only one member of a household comes to Christ, the other family members may not welcome the changes Jesus makes. The rest of the family may not like being told that they also are sinners needing forgiveness. If the new Christian was angry or abusive in the past, the rest of the family may be wary, thinking that the changes are just another temporary attempt to turn over a new leaf.
As Paul recounted the opposition he faced, he relayed to Timothy three things about which he was confident. Even though he was in jail at the time of his writing, he said, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17–18)
- The Lord stood with me
- The Lord delivered me
These first two remind me of the fourth Man in the furnace who walked with Daniel’s three buddies. Jesus will never leave us to walk through troubles alone. Even when we sin, because we are His children, Jesus will stand in our defense before the Father. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1)
- The Lord will escort me to Heaven
Paul had no doubts that he was going to Heaven, not because he earned it as a reward, but because it was offered to him as a gift by faith, and he had received it. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
How about you? Which side of the fence are you on? Are you an adopted member of the family of God, or are you “on the outside looking in”? Do you have the same level of confidence as that of Paul? If not, receive the same gift of eternal life by receiving Jesus as the new Boss of your remaining days.
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