Bible Studies

UNFULFILLED DREAMS

by Luella Campbell
09/16/14
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UNFULFILLED DREAMS

"This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there." Romans 15:22-25.

The Bible is such an interesting book! Not a book of philosophy or ethics, it's a book about people, ordinary people, not plaster saints.

Although Paul was a servant of the Lord and in partnership with the Holy Spirit, he had plans and dreams which he wanted to fulfil, and which the Holy Spirit allowed him to follow as and when it fitted in with His bigger plan. Rome was Paul's goal, the centre and hub of the known world. There was already a church there, no doubt the outcome of the witness of believers who moved in and out of the city.

As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul felt responsible for all His churches, even those he had not personally founded. However, since it was his ambition to take the gospel where Christ has not already been preached, his priority was to go to those regions first. Rome would have to wait. But now, it seems, he was running out of virgin territory and his thoughts turned to the people of God in the Eternal City.

He took the opportunity to write a letter to them, first of all to give them a thorough explanation of the message of God's righteousness revealed in Christ, and then to prepare them for his visit sometime soon. He was not aware at that time, that the Holy Spirit had other plans for getting him to Rome.

Still a free man, he was on his way to Jerusalem to deliver the offering from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the believers in Jerusalem who were in great need because of a famine in the land.

"For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's people. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings." Romans 15:26, 27.

Paul was unaware, at that time, of a serious interruption in his plans that was coming as a result of his ministry to the Gentiles. He was a marked man! The moment he put his foot in Jerusalem, he would become the target of a torrent of Jewish hatred and murderous intent. Yes, he would go to Rome as he longed to do but, compliments of the Roman government, under Roman guard and at Rome's expense.

He would not see Spain as he planned, but he had a commission to fulfil, as revealed to Ananias at the start of Paul's Christian journey. He must still stand before Nero to proclaim the name of Jesus.

"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'" Acts 9:15, 16.

Nero, like many of his predecessors and successors, thought he was God and demanded worship as Lord, Saviour and Prince of Peace! He had to learn, once and for all, that there is only one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, given the title by the God of the universe. Once he had heard the truth, he would have no excuse.

Paul's dream to visit the Roman church as a free man was never fulfilled, yet God honoured his passion to go to Rome. Paul was content to carry out the Lord's will, no matter what it cost him. Perhaps, for him to suffer for his Lord, unexpected though it was, was for him the highest honour because his Master had suffered for him in the city of God in his homeland.

It was perfectly okay for him to tell them his plans as long as they understood that his plans were always subject to his Master's plans to whom he was submitted for better or for worse.

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.