As Paul wraps up his testimony, he shares how God is using it. Paul became a pattern for others who should hereafter believe. He was made an example of God's mercy to those who were going to be saved. Jesus Christ showed a pattern of his longsuffering in Paul. A pattern is something that is duplicated by all the rest. This is the same longsuffering that he showed in every other Christian- like me! This is an example of how each and every one of us is saved.

As we consider Saul, we can see ourselves. Saul was a visible example of someone who stood against God. He thought everything was fine between him and God, but it wasn't. He tried to please God with his own works, but he was really hurting God's cause. And this is the picture of us all. We can see it clearly with Saul, but that's exactly where all of us have been. He's a great pattern, a great example of every man that becomes a Christian. We (assuming we are saved) used to lean on our own understanding. We used to be God's enemies, while trying to convince ourselves that we were doing just fine. When you think about it, Saul was really the same as you and I used to be.

Paul stood against Christianity, and he's saying if he could be saved, anybody can be saved. I hope we all see ourselves the same way. We should see ourselves as a reflection of God's incredible longsuffering and mercy. It's hard to believe He did that for us. There is something wrong with our perspective (or worse) if we don't fit into this pattern, because this is the pattern of those who believe on Him unto everlasting life.

This is a great example of humility. Paul says he's a great example of how bad we can be lost in sin. He says go ahead and talk about his sin- its ok. In fact, it's a real good idea for you to talk about it. God, please help us have that humility.

Paul maximized his testimony, which is what we should also strive to do. Of course we should never exaggerate the truth, but I think we should use the parts of our testimony that can touch people where they are, and help them see a living example of how God saved us. And we ought to be able to fit into this pattern, or something is wrong. We need to let them know they're not the only sinner in the conversation. As we show ourselves as sinners, it makes it easy for them to admit it too. It takes away their defense mechanisms once they realize we aren't looking down on them. If we can't identify with them as someone who withstood the truth, then we aren't sharing the real gospel. Paul identifies himself as a man who withstood the truth.

Paul does a great job of identifying with the Jews in Acts 22, when he makes his defense. He goes on to say things they don't want to hear, but he starts off identifying with them, so that they really listen to him. He was a Jew to the Jew. He starts off letting them know he was just like them. He was zealous, religious, like those people were. He used to persecute Christians to the point of death, just like they were trying to do to him. He was just like them, and even more so. Then he met someone who changed his life. [Specific ways he identifies with them in first five verses: spoke Hebrew; "men, brethren, fathers"; truly a Jew; brought up in Jerusalem (the religious headquarters); personally taught by Gamaliel; according to their laws; zealous just like them; persecuted Christians to the point of death (just like they were doing); in with the high priest and all the elders.]

Paul was severely beaten. It must have been physically difficult to project his voice to the crowd, as he couldn't even walk on his own. Maybe he was spitting blood as he cried out. Yet the words he chose were full of humility, showing concern for his persecutors. It's like somebody hitting you in the face as hard as they can and you saying "I can understand. I used to do the same thing." The natural response is to yell at them or beg for mercy, but not to identify with them. Paul was not caught up in talking his way out of trouble, but rather in identifying with them to manifest the gospel! It would take a miracle to follow this example. But God is caught up in delivering people from their sins, and He wants to help us have the same burden.

It requires humility on our part to show his mercy. Not only should we duplicate this pattern (1 Timothy) when we witness, but also in our day to day walk. We should be a living pattern of mercy and forgiveness.

When I stumble, I sometimes fall into stinking thinking. I sometimes don't want to reveal my sin to others because I care more about looking sharp. But that is all wrong. I should open up (with discernment) and show God's forgiveness and mercy. That is what people need to see. They don't need to see another religious person who thinks they are perfect. They need to see me excited about forgiveness and mercy. They need to see an example of humility, and not pride. (More than likely they see me stumbling anyway.) That pattern should encourage them to walk in the light and receive mercy too. This is the pattern that leads to everlasting life!!! Let's do it God's way, which leads to life, and not our way, which ministers death.

I say I believe that forgiveness and mercy are the most important things to me. But does my life always show that? When I hide my sin, I do not really believe it. I'm more worried about looking good in front of people than receiving God's forgiveness. They need to see me caring more about what God thinks. When someone confesses their sin, it encourages the other saints to get real with their own sin in front of God. They need to see the pattern that leads to everlasting life.

We're all patterns. We're all examples that people follow. What do we want to duplicate? Some things we do may not be wrong in and of themselves, but are they the best example for others to follow? When we're deciding whether to do something, we should ask ourselves if we want to see others following our behavior? Will it minister everlasting life, or will it minister the world to them?

Notice God's side of the equation. He wants us to see His desire for forgiveness. We can't fall so far as to be unforgivable. What an awesome God we have. His pattern towards man is that of extending mercy, and longsuffering. He is the God who desires to give life to those trapped in death. All we need to do is trust Him.

At the same time He hates sin. Just because He wants to forgive doesn't mean sin is not that serious to Him. He's not some sort of wimp who will let us pick on Him and get away with it forever (if we don't repent). Anyone who has read much of God's Word, with an open mind, realizes that God hates sin. He really hates it. He literally is long suffering to put up with us. We need to understand how God sees our sin, and our desperate need to respond while He's holding back His wrath. He does all this just to give us a chance to experience His mercy.

This is all about God wanting to have mercy on us, His enemies. He offers us His mercy, which lasts forever and ever. To live happily ever after is the opposite of what we deserve. But that is what God offers. He offers life everlasting to those who have earned death. We need to grab hold of God by faith while there is still time.

I used to work at a glass factory. The reject glass went into a big pile. Then they would scoop it up and run it through a crusher. And then it was thrown back into the fire. People are like defective bottles waiting to be crushed and thrown back into the fire. We all need to consider our future. But God is longsuffering, giving us a chance to believe on Him and be granted life everlasting. We can live forever and ever with Him instead of suffering in the place where rejects belong. We need to let him heal us.

Is someone withstanding you strongly because of the gospel? It might seem like they can't be saved, but they can! The only pool of people available to be saved are those who are His enemies. We all fit the same pattern. It is only because God doesn't destroy us when He feels like it, being long suffering with us, that we can pass from death and wrath unto everlasting life! Let's do our part to be a pattern of everlasting life!