South End Church of Christ :: Article: All You Need

South End Church of Christ 4001 Taylor Blvd Louisville, KY 40215

	All You Need Aaron Erhardt Slow. Bumpy. Uncertain. That is how I would describe the elevator at the radio station we broadcast from for many years. When you stepped inside, it dipped just a little. Then it shook back and forth as it gradually moved upward. The worst part, however, may have been the straining sound you heard coming from the cables. Have you ever been in an elevator like that? Now fast-forward to 2016. That is when the CTF Financial Centre in China is scheduled to open. It will feature elevators that can ascend 95 floors in 43 seconds. These elevators will be the fastest in the world, nearly three times the speed you can travel up the Empire State Building. The elevators will have a pressure control mechanism to prevent ear-popping and guide rails to prevent vibration. I guess next they’ll be shooting people through tubes! As cool as these new elevators will be, rocketing people skyward at a speed of 45 miles per hour comfortably, they are nothing compared to what Paul must have experienced when he was suddenly “taken up” to the third heaven. “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). As Paul confronted false teachers in Corinth, who apparently boasted in their achievements, he felt compelled to boast himself. This was not something he wanted to do. He made his extreme reluctance very clear. However, it was necessary given the circumstances. Paul’s Trip Paul said that he knew a man who had been “caught up” to the third heaven. We know that he was referring to himself based on verse 7, which says Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited as a result of the revelations. Furthermore, an experience by someone else would be of no value in comparing himself to his opponents. Paul spoke in the third person out of humility. He was uneasy having to boast about these things. The words “caught up” in verses 2 and 3 are from the Greek word harpazo, which means “to seize or to carry off.” Some translations say “snatched up” (CJB) or “taken up” (NCV). This same word is used of Philip being “carried away” after baptizing the eunuch in Acts 8:39 and of the living saints being “caught up” at the Second Coming in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Paul was sure of the date (“fourteen years ago”), but not the state (“in the body or out of the body”). He was so overcome by what was taking place that he lost all awareness of the physical world, including his embodiment. This is consistent with the word harpazo, which suggests a sudden rapture rather than a gradual ascent. The Jews held the idea of three heavens: the sky, the galaxy, and the dwelling place of God. Paul referred to the third heaven as “paradise.” The word is used differently here than in Luke 23:43, where it refers to Abraham’s bosom in the hadean realm. Can you even imagine that? Paul did an Enoch! He was taken up to heaven. He was invited into God’s home. He went where saints have longed to look and wait to go. He “heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell” (v. 4, NLT). And yet he apparently had not even mentioned the experience until now — almost a decade-and-a-half later — and he still doesn’t elaborate! If I were caught up to the third heaven, I think that would come up in conversation. In fact, it would probably be all I could talk about for the rest of my life. From the tell-all book entitled “The day I was taken up to the third heaven” to the personalized license plate that reads “ME C 3,” word of my trip would get out. Wouldn’t that be true of you, too? The temptation to brag and think highly of ourselves after experiencing something like that would be great. Paul was no different. Paul’s Thorn Paul’s special blessing could have become a stumbling block. It could have caused him to be conceited. Therefore, he was given a thorn in the flesh. It was sent from Satan but allowed by God. “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (v. 7). Possible suggestions for what this thorn might have been include headaches, fevers, epilepsy, eye problems, persecutions, temptations, false teachers, stammering speech, and bodily disfigurement. Though we cannot identify the thorn with any certainty, there is evidence to suggest that Paul had eye trouble. (1) He apparently could not see that it was the high priest in front of him (Acts 23:5). (2) He had others write his letters for him (Romans 16:22). (3) He said the Galatians would have “gouged out” their eyes and given them to him (Galatians 4:15). (4) When Paul did write, he used “large letters” (Galatians 6:11). Perhaps his sight never fully recovered after being blinded on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:8-9). Eye trouble could have also caused splitting headaches. It is worth noting that in the ancient world people associated epilepsy with demons, and would spit at epileptics to ward off the evil spirit. Paul said that when the Galatians saw his condition, they did not “despise” him (Galatians 4:14). The Greek word literally means “to spit upon.” So that is another possibility. Whatever the thorn might have been, Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it. However, the Lord refused to do so, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9). In other words, Jesus said that His grace was enough to strengthen and sustain the apostle. It was all he needed (see NLT). Jesus knew what was best for Paul under the circumstances. The thorn kept Paul humble by reminding him of his own weaknesses and dependence upon the Lord. And so it is with us. We all have “thorns” that we beg God to remove. If the answer is “no,” don’t feel down; look up! Those thorns might just help us in our spiritual service. They may keep us grounded, guarded, and focused on our journey to heaven. Conclusion We too can get taken up to the third heaven. Not now, but when the Lord returns if we are faithful. Until that time let us have the same positive mindset that Paul had in difficult times, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient. It is all we need!