WHY GO SO FAR?

Acts 16: 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.  9 A vision appeared to Paul during the night: A Macedonian man was standing there urging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!"  10 After Paul saw the vision, we attempted immediately to go over to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. (NIV)

In Acts 16, Paul is called to go to Macedonia.  He travels through many cities and a distance of over 350 miles including crossing the Aegean Sea.  Notice that Paul did not stop long in any city but went where God called him. If he would have been on his own plan he may have decided to stay for a while in cities along the way.  He was on God’s plan and went to the city and the people to whom he was called. We need not answer the questions regarding the distance or place of God’s calling but should consider the questions the way Jesus considers questions from Nicodemus.  Prior to the most quoted and memorized verse, John 3:16, we see Jesus instructing Nicodemus in the ways of the Lord.

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John 3: 3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (NIV)

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Go where God sends you.  God chooses your mission field.   I did not choose my mission field, God did.  I felt the pull of God and I followed the yoke.  God often sent Paul on a faraway mission trip when there were plenty of other people to visit with along the way.  The one who asks, “why do you go so far” may be the next participant on your mission field. Gently educating our “Nicodemus” allows us the opportunity to advance their Christian maturity or present the gospel to the curious.  We are called to be like the “wind” in verse 8. We may not know exactly where we are going but we are to let the spirit lead us.

New International Version. Biblica, 2011.  BibleGateway.com,

www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist.