Reality Check!

During my Bible study today I read from Acts 12 where the angel freed Peter from prison. Herod had placed him in prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Here’s the narrative: The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison.

Get the picture? Herod was intent upon holding Peter in prison. His ultimate goal was to bring Peter to trial in front of the people before Passover.   But God had other plans. Back to the narrative: Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter’s side, woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At that moment the chains fell from Peter’s hands.  I’m not sure how soundly Peter was sleeping when the angel awakened him. How soundly could one sleep on a prison bunk, hands bound and between two soldiers? But he was asleep, an indication of either his fatigue or his peace with the Lord or perhaps some of both.

The angel told him, “Put your coat on, and follow me.” Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn’t realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.  So maybe he had been sleeping more soundly than I first thought. Even though in a “trance,” Peter obeyed. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.

A couple of observations:

1.       Our perception does not always/seldom match God’s reality. Peter thought he was in a trance but God had actually sent an angel. Peter could only see the guards and bindings and cell; God saw release. How many times have my perceptions been totally different from God’s reality?  I believe it is vital for us to remember things are not always as they appear, especially in these days of terrorist attacks and ISIS victories. God is still in control.

2.       The angel didn’t leave Peter UNTIL he was safely outside the prison. The angel didn’t stay a moment longer than he was needed. God won’t short-change us when He begins a work in our lives.

3.       The more difficult the circumstance, the more God seems to delight in proving us wrong. Herod thought he had secured Peter in such a way he could not possible escape. He was wrong.

Today I’ve been considering how many times my perceptions have been wrong; how many times I’ve worried when God was trying to tell me, “I’ve got this.” I’m trying to grow—hope I’m spiritually mature by the time I die.