Okay, so let me repeat what you just said so you can listen to what you are saying:

• You mean to tell me that a man was born through a virgin somehow by the spirit of God, producing a boy child who became a man who was both human and God in the flesh?  That’s just crazy talk.
• You say that I have been loved and planned for since the beginning of time when the world was created? That’s crazy love!
• So, you’re saying that Someone loves me so much that He came to earth to save me from punishment I fully deserve to pay for of all the wrong I have committed in my life?  Willingly? And this sacrifice was preplanned and written down on paper?  That’s crazy talk.  Who would knowingly and willingly do that?
• You say that this Someone not only knows my name, but knows everything about me—and still loves me?  Crazy, there are many times I don’t love me.
• ALL my sins are forgiven and all I have to do is ask?  What’s the catch?
• And when I ask, I have a place reserved for me at God’s place—forever?!  There have to be dues to pay, right?
• Seriously, is this really real?  We have life forever with all sins forgiven and forgotten, slate wiped clean, all because Someone came, loved, taught us about God, lived a perfect example of a sinless life, then was killed for being God in the flesh as a sacrifice for our sins?  AND then rose from death back to life—scars and all?!

This is crazy! –but tell me more!  This is crazy love is this is all true!

Acts 26, The Message

“I Couldn’t Just Walk Away”

^1-3 Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: “Go ahead—tell us about yourself.”

Paul took the stand and told his story. “I can’t think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I’d rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you, knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels.

^4-8 “From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem. Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up—and if they were willing to stick their necks out they’d tell you in person—knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion. It’s because I believed it and took it seriously, committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors—the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries—it’s because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I’m being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me! For the life of me, I can’t see why it’s a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.

^9-11 “I admit that I didn’t always hold to this position. For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers—I had no idea they were God’s people!—into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem.

^12-14 “One day on my way to Damascus, armed as always with papers from the high priests authorizing my action, right in the middle of the day a blaze of light, light outshining the sun, poured out of the sky on me and my companions. Oh, King, it was so bright! We fell flat on our faces. Then I heard a voice in Hebrew: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me? Why do you insist on going against the grain?’

^15-16 “I said, ‘Who are you, Master?’

“The voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I’ve handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what’s happened today, and to what I am going to show you.

^17-18 “‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’

^19-20 “What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn’t just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change—this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life—right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world.

^21-23 “It’s because of this ‘whole world’ dimension that the Jews grabbed me in the Temple that day and tried to kill me. They want to keep God for themselves. But God has stood by me, just as he promised, and I’m standing here saying what I’ve been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen. And everything I’m saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God’s daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing.”

²⁴ That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: “Paul, you’re crazy! You’ve read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!”

^25-27 But Paul stood his ground. “With all respect, Festus, Your Honor, I’m not crazy. I’m both accurate and sane in what I’m saying. The king knows what I’m talking about. I’m sure that nothing of what I’ve said sounds crazy to him. He’s known all about it for a long time. You must realize that this wasn’t done behind the scenes. You believe the prophets, don’t you, King Agrippa? Don’t answer that—I know you believe.”

²⁸ But Agrippa did answer: “Keep this up much longer and you’ll make a Christian out of me!”

²⁹ Paul, still in chains, said, “That’s what I’m praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me—except, of course, for this prison jewelry!”

^30-31 The king and the governor, along with Bernice and their advisors, got up and went into the next room to talk over what they had heard. They quickly agreed on Paul’s innocence, saying, “There’s nothing in this man deserving prison, let alone death.”

³² Agrippa told Festus, “He could be set free right now if he hadn’t requested the hearing before Caesar.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul has just delivered the heart of the gospel of Jesus’ saving work of love, mercy, and grace for all who believe and call on His Name for forgiveness of sins.  Festus is uncomfortable by the Truth.  King Agrippa is almost persuaded to believe the Truth.

Paul was called crazy for believing and telling the Truth of Jesus, but still they listened. They could not dismiss him or look away! Christ fills a believer’s new life with joy, hope, love, and peace. People still in the “old life” can see the difference but do not always understand it.  King Agrippa, Festus, and all listening to Paul can see this joy of Jesus on His face and in his being as he speaks.  It is Jesus in Paul who is doing the talking.  It’s God’ Holy Spirit in the room who is speaking to hearts and encouraging them to listen and believe.

That’s how it is when we tell the story of Jesus to others.  We tell how Jesus changed our lives from “darkness to Light”, as Paul relates what Jesus did for him.  This is our story intertwined in God’s story of salvation for all—for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.  God wants us, died for us while we were still sinners, and loved us so much He sent a part of Himself to save us.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17, NIV

I know it sounds crazy, unbelievable, incredible, too good to be true, and too easy—but this is who God is—the Lover of our souls!  He went to hell and back again so that we could free from our sins and live forever with Him—beginning as soon as we say yes, I believe!  This is the Way, Truth, and Life.  This is Jesus who changes everything.

Believe and be saved. 

It’s not as crazy as you think to believe in the One who created us to love Him back.

Lord,

Thank for reminding us through the witness of Paul of your love and compassion for each one of us who you created with purpose.  You are God and we are not.  You did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  You redeemed us and set us free!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Help us to live in your ways by your power working in us.  Give us the words to tell your story to others.

In Jesus Name, Amen

One final thought—

Are you haunted by your past? Are you less accepting of other believers because of their pasts? Take a page from the apostle Paul. God can soften even the hardest heart. Continue to walk forward with him, one step at a time.  You will be amazed!