Acts 28:3 NLT – ‘As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand.’
Sometimes as believers, we face periods of unending trials and difficult circumstances. And sometimes people watch us during these periods and develop incomplete opinions about us and our walk with God. When Job went through a period of sickness and loss, his friends were sure that he had sinned against God. But that wasn’t the case. In situations like Job’s and Paul’s, we have sure assurance of victory if we keep our hearts free from bitterness and hold on to God and His Word.
When Jesus was on the way to the cross, He said something profound to His disciples; John 16:33 (ERV) says, “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!’
Our reference scripture in Acts 28 gives us a profound example of back to back trials. Paul had just survived a shipwreck on his way to Rome and arrived on an island called Malta. At Malta, while trying to lay sticks on a fire, a snake driven out by heat bit him on his hand. Let’s take a look at the people’s conclusion:
Acts 28:4-6 NLT – ‘The people of the island saw [the snake] hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds.’
The people of Malta came to an interesting conclusion; Paul had to be a murderer. If he just survived a shipwreck and was then bitten by a snake, justice was being served for his wickedness. But because Paul was a man in Christ who had unhindered fellowship with the Lord, he was protected from the snake venom and contrary to the expectation of the people, he did not die.
As mentioned earlier, people can come to false conclusions about us due to the trials we face. Their conclusions can be even more difficult to bear if it tells a story related to our past. Prior to his conversion, Paul consented to the murder of Stephen (Acts 8:1). He was also an injurious and violent man who persecuted Christians (1 Timothy 1:13).
As Christians, we are not to be discouraged even in the fiercest of trials because we have an assurance of deliverance. Because of our faith in Christ, we are overcomers and should not be distracted by the voice of detractors. Sometimes, these distractions are thrown at us to prevent us from reaching our God-directed place. Jesus and his disciples faced the fiercest storm on their way to deliver the man possessed with a Legion of demons (Mark 4.35 to 5.1-17). Even if the voices of accusation around you look justified because of past events, know something for sure:
2 Corinthians 5:27 CEV – ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.’
PRAYER: Lord, help me to always have a clear conscience that is void of offense before God and man (Acts 24:16). This way, I am sure to have victory and dominion over my circumstances because I know you cannot fail me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.