NO FEAR OF DYING
Acts 25:10-11 NKJV
10 So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar."
It must be hard to scare a man who is not afraid of dying. Paul is once again having to defend himself before Roman authorities, in this case Festus, from the Jews who are bent on killing him. The Jews keep trying to have Paul sent to Jerusalem where they have planned an ambush to kill him. Religious hate is strong.
Paul is not intimidated by Festus despite his status as a ruler. And Paul is not afraid of the Jews. Each time the Jews make accusations against him, he stays with the same defense. Paul continues to calmly state that he has done no wrong to anyone. When Festus asks if Paul is willing to go to Jerusalem, Paul answers him bluntly. "I have done no wrong, as you very well know," is not the answer of a man who is afraid.
Paul then reveals why he is so hard to intimidate. He does not object to dying. The caveat is that he does not object to dying if he had done anything worthy of death. But since he had done nothing wrong, Paul appealed, as a Roman citizen, to stand before Caesar. This would be similar to appealing his case before the Supreme Court in our day.
Paul's perspective of death is not revealed in this chapter, but he makes numerous references to not being afraid to die. He said that he was ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord. He said that he did not count his life as precious to himself, and now he states he does not object to dying. Who does not object to dying? The best answer is seen in Paul's letter to the Philippians.
In the first chapter of Philippians, Paul's writings reveal an internal struggle. He realizes that to die would be the best thing for him personally. But he knew that to continue to live would benefit the believers. But he was still struggling. To depart and be with Christ is far better. Paul knew exactly where he was going, and it would be the end of his pain and struggles down here on earth. Paul knew he would be with Christ. But even as he wrote those words, Paul came to a decision. He said to remain in the flesh would be more needful for the church. He wanted to go home, but the people needed him, and Jesus wanted him to stay.
Those words in Philippians 1:24 are revealing. Paul said to remain in the flesh is more needful. This means Paul viewed death as merely a change of location. He, speaking of his spirit, could stay here in the flesh or go be with Christ. He was still living either way here on earth or there in heaven. It is hard to scare a man who knows that in dying, he gets a promotion to heaven.
APPLICATION
Paul had reached the end of his life when he stood before Festus. He knew he was nearing the time for him to go to heaven, so dying was no big deal. To those who have reached the end of a full life, dying is a promotion. We are going to love heaven. I am personally not ready to go until I finish my assignment. Sure, we miss those who have departed, but we should not feel sorry for them; to depart and be with Christ is far better.
There are so many things we do not know about the next life. We do know it will be better, far better. But until that day, we strive to glorify the Lord on the earth and finish what He has given us to do. And we ain't scared!