Fickle or Faithful?

When you read Acts 14 you see two great contrasts in the folks in it.  One is that Paul enters the city of Lystra heals a cripple and the people there are in such awe they mistakenly laud Paul and Barnabas as gods !  But then verse 19 says this, “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city supposing he had been dead.”   Sheeish !  Can you believe the fickle nature of people?  If you have lived for very long, the answer would be a resounding yes !    In one moment, Paul is a god, in the next a villain worthy of a terrible death !!

However, let’s look at the flipside of this chapter.  Paul has just been brutally assaulted and left for dead. Some believe it’s this assault that has damaged his eyes. Verse 20 proceeds thus: “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city. . .” !!  Catch that? He had been stoned and drug out of Lystra, he gets up after this terrible act against him and goes right back !   Then in verse it says he leaves but returns again !!  Was the apostle a glutton for punishment? Had he had his brains scrambled a bit from the stoning? No and no !  He was the opposite kind of person than the Lystrans !  His character was not easily swayed by the next situation or smooth talker, he was settled in truth, he had a firm foundation in what he believed !  Do you?   Are you a fickle or a faithful person?

Ultimately, the difference here is what we do with Jesus Christ and His Word !  If we choose to believe Him and truly live by His Word then what begins to happen is He builds into our thinking a sure foundation.  We will no longer be tossed by every wind of doctrine that comes down the pike, we will be a steady rock in a storm, our insecurities will be replaced by the assurance of Truth and that is very comforting and brings to a person great purpose and direction no matter what may come our way.  This is a brand new day, friend, keep solidifying your mind with the Word !!