After our itinerary was routed away from Israel, due to the current conflicts in that area, I was thrilled that we would get the opportunity to travel through Greece and visit some of the historical biblical sites.
Our first destination was Korinthos: the site of ancient Corinth. In the Bible (Acts 18), we read about the apostle Paul’s journey to this site. Paul spent about a year and a half in this city, preaching the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. This is where Paul first met up with Priscilla & Aquila, fellow Christians that worked with Paul making tents, and who later accompanied him to Ephesus.
When we arrived in Greece, I was at first surprised by how much the Mediterranean landscape reminded me of my home in Southern California. As we journeyed through the country and into the region of ancient Corinth, I imagined Paul arriving for the first time, journeying overland from Athens. He would have seen the same sights: mountains on one side, the land descending toward the sea on the other. It would have been hot, dusty and dry, the shrubs and thin trees providing little relief from the heat. As I sweated and slapped at the biting flies, I understood that Paul wasn’t just a legendary Christian hero: he was a human being that had to overcome the same discomforts we all do.
It’s so tempting to look at the accomplishments of the apostle Paul and mentally distance ourselves from him. I know that for myself, I think, Paul was so driven and so successful that all the traveling and evangelizing must have been easier for him somehow. But, after walking a bit in his steps, I’m not so sure that that’s true. I was amazed by this passage (Acts 18:9-11):
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Paul – afraid? Seriously tempted to throw in the towel and keep quiet? I’d never really thought about him that way before. The truth is, even the ‘greatest Christian in history’ wasn’t without fear. The important part was, Paul faced his fears in obedience to the Lord. And the world has never been the same since.
Indeed, Paul was human and we need to remember that we can relate to him because we all are human – we all face temptations and trials. Those of us that are Christian also all have the same God on our side, working in us and through us. May we each (racers and non-racers alike) follow in Paul’s footsteps, casting fear to the side and grasping hold of the victory laid out before us.
