Romans 1:15
15 So [houto], as much as [kata] in me is [eme], I am ready [prothumos] to preach the gospel [euaggelizo] to you [humin] that are at [en] Rome [Rhome] also [kai]. KJV-Interlinear
15 Thus, for my part, I am eager
to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. NASB
As we have already seen in the prior verse, Gods
plans for our life, and our plans for our life, do not always match up.
In his other trips, Paul planned them and then
traveled at will.
But in the Rome trip, though he wanted to go there,
one thing after another got in the way of that trip. And it was not until God was ready, and not
at Pauls discretion, that Paul then made the trip. And it was not a trip by choice, but a trip
due to criminal accusation.
Gods plan was not for Paul to travel hither and
thither and yon, but to settle down and write scripture.
When you are doing your own thing in life, with pretty
much a general or total disregard for what God intended for you, then you are
not doing much more than traveling ambiguously hither, thither and yon, as they
say. You are going everywhere and nowhere,
and accomplishing pretty much nothing.
But of course you do not generally see that in your own eyes, at the
time.
But, when you settle down into your spiritual life,
then things may remain the same or they may change dramatically. But whatever is your calling, it will be in
accordance with Gods plans, not yours.
Paul probably did not expect his life to be spent
in prison, or the end of his life to be at the hands of an executioner. But his
life was more fulfilling than what he would have had otherwise.
Most people want to live their life in their chosen
field of employment, live as comfortable life, have a pleasant retirement, and
then just fall to sleep for the last time.
And your life may very well happen that way.
Or!
You could discover your entire life being shaken to
the core, being uprooted to parts unknown, and end up doing something that you
never dreamed of doing. And if it is
Gods will, then you will discover that you are where you are supposed to be,
and doing what you are supposed to be doing.
Paul, Jonah, Ruth and many others are perfect
examples of this. The changes are not
solely for their benefit, while they are blessed by it all, but for the benefit
of many, many others.
