How Far?

 May 29, 2022

I had the privilege of preaching this morning on the story of the Philippian jailer’s conversion in Acts 16. There is much to learn here, but first and foremost is the extent to which God is willing to go for someone’s eternal soul. In the ordinary scheme of things, this story should never have happened.

Paul had intended to spread the Gospel in Asia Minor, but twice was prohibited from doing so. The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what happened, but whatever it was, Paul took it as a sign from God that he wasn’t to go in that direction. While he was trying to figure things out, he had a dream in which a man from Macedonia was calling out for Paul to come help them. That was all it took; Paul booked a flight to Macedonia that very next day (OK, it wasn’t quite like that, but it was the 1st Century equivalent).

When he got there, he had a successful beginning with Lydia’s conversion. Some time after, everything began to fall apart. He was hounded by a demonized slave girl who made quite a tidy income for her handlers by telling fortunes. She kept announcing that Paul and Silas were servants of the Most High God, a true enough statement, but not exactly a prime endorsement. Be careful who praises you; a character reference from Vladimir Putin would not look particularly good on your résumé. 

Paul exorcised the demon, which didn’t set too well with her handlers, who had them dragged before the local magistrates on trumped up charges. Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, and thrown into jail, even having hands and feet fixed in stocks. If that had happened to many of us, we would be whining and crying, “After all I’ve done to serve you, Lord, why is this happening to me?” Paul and Silas were made of sterner stuff and instead were singing and praying.

An earthquake followed, shaking the prison so hard that their chains fell off and the doors flew open. The guard burst in asking what he needed to do to be saved. He was thinking of his skin; letting prisoners escape was a capital offense. Paul thought of his soul: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved; you and your house.” 

Follow the sequence of events. Circumstances preventing Paul from going to Asia Minor, a vision calling him to Macedonia, harassment by a demonized slave girl, an exorcism, being arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison, and finally, an earthquake. God really wanted that jailer and his family to know Jesus. And he wants no less for you and me.

I’ve listened to people claiming that they were too far gone to be saved. Maybe you’ve felt that way yourself. Don’t believe it! If God was willing to send his Son to the cross, and was willing to arrange all these things for this jailer to be saved, what do you suppose he’s willing to do for you? There is no limit to his love, no extent to which he is not willing to go for you. God loves you that much! Don’t let it be for nothing. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you too, can be saved.