Lives of Great Men
49
“hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face
of the earth.” Then he shows how, through all the dealings of God with
man, runs like a thread of gold His purpose of grace and mercy. He
“hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel
after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.”
Acts 17:23, 26, 27
.
Hear him in the court of Festus, when King Agrippa, convicted of
the truth of the gospel, exclaims, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.” With what gentle courtesy does Paul, pointing to his own
chain, make answer, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all
that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am,
except these bonds.”
Acts 26:28, 29
.
Thus passed his life, as described in his own words, “in journeyings
often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own
countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in
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the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in
weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”
2 Corinthians 11:26, 27
.
“Being reviled,” he said, “we bless; being persecuted, we suffer
it: being defamed, we entreat;” “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things.”
1 Corinthians 4:12, 13
;
2 Corinthians 6:10
.
In service he found his joy; and at the close of his life of toil,
looking back on its struggles and triumphs, he could say, “I have
fought a good fight.”
2 Timothy 4:7
.
These histories are of vital interest. To none are they of deeper
importance than to the youth. Moses renounced a prospective kingdom,
Paul the advantages of wealth and honor among his people, for a life of
burden bearing in God’s service. To many the life of these men appears
one of renunciation and sacrifice. Was it really so? Moses counted
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. He
counted it so because it was so. Paul declared: “What things were gain
to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all
things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but refuse, that I may gain Christ.”
Philippians 3:7, 8
, R.V., margin.
He was satisfied with his choice.