The Text

“And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:22–24)

Paul was speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus. He did not know all the details of what would happen to him in Jerusalem — that was not revealed — but he knew that bonds and afflictions awaited him. And knowing that, he said: None of these things move me.

We do not have personal prophecies as Paul had. We have the general prophecies of the Bible to guide us:

“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
“If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)

Knowing these things, Paul's words become a call to each of us: None of these things move me. Move me from where? We are not to be moved from Christ. We are not to be moved from the one true gospel. We are not to be moved from our course — compare Acts 20:24 with 2 Timothy 4:7: I have finished my course. Here Paul says, that I might finish my course — he had time still. But at the end he could say triumphantly, I have. What a wonderful testimony. We are not to be moved from our faithfulness to the Lord: Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

I. Neither Count I My Life Dear Unto Myself

“I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)

How dear is your life to you? There is more than one sense in which your life should be dear to you. Life is God's gift. We must do all we can to preserve it for as long as God wants us to. We must enjoy it and live it to the fullest — not in the world's sense, but as God says: He has given us richly all things to enjoy. But — and here is the thing — our life is not to be as dear to us as Christ must be. It is not to be set up above the Lord Jesus Christ. If we die, is it not gain?

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Stop and ask yourself: can you say Amen to that verse — from your very heart, in all truth and sincerity? The true Christian loses absolutely nothing by dying. Not only does he lose nothing — he does not stay as he is now. He gains. He gains a greater life, a greater home, a greater body, greater possessions, greater company than anything he could ever have had on this earth.

“That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Christ came to deliver us from the fear of death. If he came to do that, why should we fear it?

II. Do Not Fear the Manner of Dying

Perhaps it is not death itself you fear, but the manner of dying. Many a Christian can say, I have no fear of death — but the manner of dying seems to be another thing. Consider three things carefully.

First: Not all deaths are lingering and painful. Many are very quick and very painless. Since you have absolutely no idea how you will personally die, what is the use of worrying about it now? Sinful anxiety cannot add one second to your appointed lifespan.

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

God has appointed the manner, the time, and the means of your death from all eternity. That is set. Worrying about it will not change the decree of the Almighty.

Second: Think of Peter. He knew what kind of death he would die — a physically violent one. And yet the Lord's response was simply: Follow me.

“When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.” (John 21:18–19)

In other words: it is here and now, Peter. How are you going to live? Peter went out and preached the gospel and lived for the glory of God — knowing full well what awaited him. You who have absolutely no idea whether you will die painfully or peacefully — can you not do the same?

Third: Think of the millions of your brethren in Christ who suffered deaths far worse than yours is likely to be. Untold thousands went through fire and water and other cruel deaths for Christ. In all likelihood, whatever you suffer will not be a fraction of what they endured. And even if the manner of your death were severe — in the light of eternity, whatever you endure in this short lifespan is like a drop in the ocean. It will soon be over. And above all, the Lord is faithful and loving and will help each of his children through whatever he calls them to go through.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2)
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

III. Do Not Fear the Loss of All Things

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions... ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (Hebrews 10:32–34)

These Hebrew Christians had their very property stolen from them by their persecutors — and yet they took it joyfully. Why? Because their treasure was not in earthly things. Their treasure was in heaven. When they lost earthly things, it did not move them, because their heart was not there.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21)
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:7–8)

Hold on to the things of this world with a very light hand. Not a grasping hand. Let none of these things move you.

IV. Do Not Fear the Reproach of Men

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11–12)
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” (1 Peter 4:14)

Are you afraid of being a laughing stock, the butt of their jokes, the song of their nighttime revelries? Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Happy are you. Let not the reproach of men move you.

V. Do Not Fear the Loss of Loved Ones

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37–38)
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

We are to love our parents and our children — but not more than Christ. The word hate here does not mean hatred as we ordinarily use it, but a lesser form of love: putting the Lord first, so that the love we have for him is, by comparison, as love to hatred.

The loss of a loved one is perhaps the greatest earthly trial a Christian faces — and there is no earthly loss that compares with it. But even so, the Lord is with you. And let us settle this fully in our hearts now: it is a certainty. At some point in this life we will suffer such a loss. The sooner we settle that, the better. And when it comes, let it not move us from our course.

Think of Job:

“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:20–22)

Conclusion: Let None of These Things Move You

“We sent Timotheus... to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” (1 Thessalonians 3:2–4)

We are appointed to death. We are appointed to the loss of loved ones. We are appointed to suffer some form of tribulation and persecution. We know this. We knew it before it came. Let us not therefore be moved by it when it does.

Let none of these things move you — neither death, nor the manner of dying, nor the loss of all things, nor the reproach of men, nor the loss of your loved ones. Press forward in the Lord to finish your course with joy. For as Jesus said: In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Amen.

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