As mentioned in the previous post, an elect is someone chosen by God to do his will in the land of the living. An example of such a person in the Bible is the Apostle Paul.
In Acts 9:15 (NIV), Jesus speaks about him, stating, “This man is my chosen instrument of proclaiming my name to the Gentiles and to their kings and to the people of Israel.” This occurred in an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus. Then was converted from a persecutor of Christians to becoming a Christian and a preacher of the word. (Acts 9)
Paul went on to become a pillar in the shaping of early Christianity and the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was persecuted but was not discouraged; instead, he went on to found churches and Christian communities.
He, however, faced two dilemmas. Those who knew him in the days he persecuted Christians avoided him and questioned his calling. They could not accept that he had been called to ministry (Acts 9:13-14). However, as his ministry progressed, others saw and believed in his calling.
His other dilemma was with the head of communities and the state. This set of people persecuted him because his teachings posed a problem to their system. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa asked him, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Apostle Paul’s life as a Christian was filled with challenges as he proclaimed his faith in his ministry. He did not give up until the very end, as evidenced by his words in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Thank you for reading. The next blog will be published on December 22.
