I’m Taking My Ball And Going Home!
Acts 18:6“But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
When things don’t go your way sometimes you need to pack up your things and go home! Waist no time on those who refuse to listen. Waist not your breath for those whom refuse truth.
Sometimes you need to call it a day. Some people will only ever take and our time is precious and we shouldn’t waist our time. We must be faithful with our testimony and our prayers. We must never close doors but that doesn’t mean we seek out those who aim to drain precious recourses.
Have faith in God and work things out in lives you cannot be apart of by prayer and hope. Paul knew when it was time to go, to move on, and as frustrating as that may have been for Paul, he knew that God’s time is precious and we are but links in a chain. Romans 12:3“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”It’s not about who we are, it’s who Christ is within us it’s not about if people hear our message which is not our message at all, but the message of Christ. It’s about getting that message out there and being that link in the chain. We can never talk someone into Jesus because if you can be talked into, someone else can talk you out of Jesus. Paul knew when it was time to go, and when it was time to fight. It’s important to understand how to pick and choose your battles. There are hills to die on, and there are hills to strategically retreat from. In this life there are five hills to die on, and it’s important to keep focused on that. Now you’re wondering what’s so important, what is so big that there are hills to die on?
Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.
These are the hills to die on. This is the foundation of Christianity, and everything else is just a distraction. In this day of lightning fast information, worldwide discussions, internet chats, social media, and the list goes on, it’s easy to get swept into the bait of arguments which are not likely to change anyone’s mind, just end in a waist of time and energy. The five solas are the hills to focus on. Only Jesus Christ can change hearts and minds. It’s up to us to know when to be like Paul, knowing when it’s time to pick up your ball and go home. It isn’t about us, or our pride, or knowing we talked someone into it, it’s about the glory of God and maintaining our self-respect, and standing on the truth. It’s about living for the world to see, and being a nobody, telling the world about somebody, Jesus Christ. Everyone has a purpose, and know that God has chosen you for something special.
If you wonder what hills you’d be willing to die on, ask yourself what hill was Christ willing to die on. Christ died on a hill for a purpose and that purpose was you and me. Christ’s love was beyond anything we deserved. We were and are sinners deserving nothing but death in our cosmic treason, but Christ died on that hill for us, and we must choose our own hills. When we look to this life, Scripture, Faith, Grace, Christ, and Glory are the hills we hold our ground, we never back down. Anything outside of those five isn’t worth dying for. Don’t get drug into idol conversation. 2 Timothy 2:16-17“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer.” We can be wrapped up in foolish nonsense, and we can easily loose sight of what’s important. People will try to bring you into arguments of politics, of faith, or a whole bunch of other idol conversations, but don’t forget, the first, most, and only thing that’s important is stay on point for Christ. When you have too, pick up your ball, and go home.
The Arrow Preacher 