God’s Good Purposes Will Prevail

My current devotional Bible reading plan had me finishing up the book of Acts this morning. The end of Acts finds Paul’s life at risk once again. He’s been unjustly imprisoned, and there’s no semblance of due process—not even for a Roman citizen like himself—because the powers that be are hoping for a bribe. He endures a shipwreck, nearly being killed by the soldiers on the ship, and somehow survives a poisonous snakebite on Malta.

Yet, the book ends with Paul doing the exact thing God had called him to—to take the gospel to the Gentiles.  In his last words in Acts, Paul announces, “Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen” (Acts 28:28). Then Luke concludes the book with this observation about Paul in Rome, “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:30-31).

God’s plan cannot be thwarted. An angry mob in Jerusalem could not stop God’s plan for Paul. Greed and opportunism from politicians cannot stop God’s plan. God’s plan cannot be thwarted by gross injustice, by foolishness, or even by natural disasters. In fact, God often accomplishes his plan precisely through the things we expect to put a stop to his work. Surely, the cross of Christ shows us this truth most clearly. God worked through the evil that was the crucifixion of Jesus to bring about the great good of rescuing many from the power of sin and death. God’s good purposes will prevail—the gospel will be proclaimed to the nations.