I never expected to become a pastor. But I had no intention of becoming a Christian either. In fact, I was almost asked to stop attending the ‘Young Peoples Group’ in my local church because I was so disruptive. I was a self-opinionated, over-confident student pursuing a degree in Islamic history and I wanted to do all I could to expose their gullibility. Looking back however, I can now see that I wanted to destroy one person’s faith in particular. I failed spectacularly, and we ended up married.

So why did she, and for that matter why did they ‘press on’ given the cynicism and the unkind treatment I meted out on a weekly basis? Indeed, why should I press on given the current spiritual climate and the growing sense of disenchantment with the church today?

If I want to find answers to questions like that, I can do no better than turn to a letter the apostle Paul wrote the church in Philippi. He was in prison, probably in Rome, and he was finding ministry both taxing and potentially life-threatening. We can catch a glimpse of how he was feeling if we reflect on his observation that they were ‘in this struggle together.’

Now the Greek word translated ‘struggle’ gives rise to our English word agony. It was used of athletes giving their all to win a prize and was used by the Gospel writer Luke to describe the anguish experienced by Jesus prior to His crucifixion.

But Paul was determined to stay the course and he was eager to ensure his friends didn’t give up either. And it is clear from this letter that his dogged approach was based on two fundamental convictions. First and foremost he was convinced that God had raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him in charge of the universe. Consequently, it was Jesus not the emperor Nero that was in control of Paul’s life. Paul then was willing to declare this truth whether people believed him or not. It was this that led to my conversion. Like C. S. Lewis, I was a very reluctant believer, but the evidence for the resurrection persuaded me that it would be stupid to deny the Lordship of Jesus. The evidence proved He is ‘guilty’ of coming back to life.

But just as importantly, Paul was convinced that in the final analysis people come to faith because of God’s mysterious, miraculous saving power. He hints at this at the very start of the letter where he writes: “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Jesus said the same when He told his friends: “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray Him). Then He said: “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

I have seen this operating time and time again. God can, and does intervene in the most unexpected ways in the most unlikely lives with the result that they too have no option but to acknowledge Jesus as their risen Lord. It was true of Paul and it is true of me. All of which encourages me to press on because I never know who will come to faith next. And I like surprises.