Acts 20:5-16
It may not look like it, but there was a battle going on. Paul had been preaching in Asia, and the devil was not happy. Now, Paul was told by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem, so in his travels, he stopped at Troas for a week. The day before he departed, a good number of people gathered together to hear Paul speak. Late that night, however, there was a young man in the group who was getting tired. Now, he was probably not used to being up late at night, and he went over to the window, perhaps to get some fresh air, or maybe just for something to lean on.
Now, let's stop for a minute. In an army, you have a group of soldiers. A group will have some in the center and some on the edge, and that is normal. Not all will fit in the middle. Those on the edges protect those in the middle and those in the middle back up those on the edge if something happens. Everyone is looking out for each other. There are also watchmen placed at the edges of the troops, but if the watchman falls asleep at night, there could be severe punishment, or death (maybe even for the rest of the number, resulting from the lack of protection). If the watchman falls asleep, horrible things can happen—the enemy can attack more easily without anyone knowing what is coming, and could also sneak into camp and steal things. Whatever the case, the watchman has a huge responsibility, and there are severe consequences for sleeping. Sitting on the edge can be very dangerous indeed; just think about the wild animals, too. The predators—lions, wolves, and tigers—usually circle around the herd trying to find the one who is too far on the edge and is not watching. There is an order, and there needs to be some on the surrounding edge, and some in the middle, but the outer edges are a dangerous place to be, and should not be taken lightly. The young man in Paul's day did not realize this, for he nodded off to sleep on the window ledge and fell to his death on the ground beneath.
However, the story does not end there, for Paul, being merciful, laid down his life, and prayed to God that the young man would live, and Alleluia! He did! Praise God! May our lives reflect the order of God, and in obedience to Him and His call; may we take up our battle positions, for the time has come!
~ Jason Frantz
