Acts 27:42-44 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
It has almost always been standard operating procedure for any law officer to kill a prisoner in transport rather than letting them escape to freedom. I imagine the guards that were on board that storm battered ship with the Apostle Paul were ready and willing to obey the order to kill on sight. With the ship running aground and all passengers making ready to jump off, those guards knew that they would not be able to account for all prisons. What a surprise it must have been when the centurion gave the orders to let them get off the ship to safety. Why such a break from precedent? Any escaped prisons would mean certain dead to any of the guards involved. What could possibly cause the leader to take such a risk of career and life?
The reputation of one man. Just because the centurion wanted to spare the life of the Apostle Paul, he withheld the guards from killing any prisons. When Jesus call all Christians to be lights to shine, He calls us to be different not to call attention to ourselves but to Him. The centurion was so taken by the light of Paul's testimony not because of who Paul was but who he proclaimed and lived for in this lost and dying world.
The power of Paul's reputation was not from his personality, intellect, or charisma. But rather his submission and relationship to the Savior. Read the whole chapter in Acts 27, you see saturated throughout the text Paul encouraging the crew not by standup comics, or possibility thinking, but how God has promised safety and deliverance. This shows Paul's continual devotion to Christ even in the weeks of storms and crisis. It is this type of commitment that catches the attention of others.
It makes me wonder if given the same circumstance would my reputation have such an effect? The workplace with the boss and coworkers. The school with teachers and classmates. Our neighborhoods and even in our own homes. Does the light of Christ shine through us, or our more concerned about our own selfish interests. How much do we burden authorities with our petty disobedience. Fight for our own way with peers. Even in our churches we fight and feud over music, clothing, versions, decorations, and other issues that show our immaturity more than our spirituality.
At the writing of this entry, we face a new year of possible financial troubles of whatever level. The world needs to see Christ's with hope and faith in the God of all comfort. Not Christians who get mad and offended when their preferences are not met. Strong belief in a God who is upclose and person. Not a strong will that is uptight and sour.
