Facing 2021

Holy Scripture is the only rule of faith and life. The word "rule" takes us back to the Greek word, "canon" (κανών), meaning a "straight rod." It corresponds to a ruler or yardstick, a standard for measuring things. In other words, in Christianity we have a yardstick by which to measure ideas: Holy Scripture. We believe in a completed or closed canon, and that canon is infallible.

But what happens when godly Christians disagree on a course of action that is not spelled out in Holy Scripture?

Such was the case with the Apostle Paul who was called by the Holy Spirit to travel to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22), as over against others who through the Spirit warned him not to go (Acts 21:4; 20:23) -- the Prophet Agabus even warning: "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles'" (Acts 21:11).

In spite of knowing trouble was coming, Paul was a cheerful man, stating, "But none of these things move me" (Acts 20:24). The reason is that he did not value his life in and of itself: "Nor do I count my life dear to myself" (Acts 20:24). Rather, he affirmed: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

His goal was to finish the race that God had set before him, and to finish it with joy: "So that I may finish my race with joy" (Acts 20:24). His ambition was to complete his service, "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

What is God going to do in 2021?

He is manipulating world events so that people "should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for him and find him" (Acts 17:26-27).