Suicide Mission

Suicide mission, Hollywood style

You've probably seen a dozen of these movies.  There's a suicide mission to be done, and the army turns to our hero to recruit a team.  What does he do?

• He gets a bunch of villains—with no hope of freedom.
• He offers them redemption—on conditions.
• The conditions include this mission of desperate adventure
• And they always ask, "Why?  Why is it so important?"

If you think about it, that's exactly what Jesus has done for Paul here.  He's been the worst of villains toward the Lord—but now he's offered redemption;  redemption and a mission of desperate adventure.  Just like in the movies, you have to tell the man why.

Why?

He's going to the Gentiles;  it will be a desperate adventure;  it will be his redemption—and here's why the mission needs to be accomplished:

• To open their eyes—is the problem that they are so completely wicked as to be fit only for the fires of hell?  No!  The problem is that they are ignorant of what God desires.  Once their eyes are opened, then they can make a choice.
• To turn from darkness to light—if your eyes are closed it doesn't make any difference.  But if you now know the difference, you move towards the light. 
• To turn from the power of Satan to God—these are a people who are worshiping fertility goddesses, sacred rocks and who knows what else.  Can you imagine what it must be like to go from a religion of hundreds of gods to be appeased to knowing the living God who is love?
• So that they may receive forgiveness—Now that they know what they've been doing, they can ask for the forgiveness Christ so freely offers.
• So that they may receive a place with the sanctified— this is not just an academic forgiveness, but the promise of the resurrection of the dead and life eternal with Christ.

Sounds like a grand mission;  desperate adventure in a plan that sweeps the ages.  Any volunteers?