Acts 26:4. "My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews." This is the beginning of Paul's defense before King Agrippa, to whom his case has been brought due to the leading Jews wanting him killed for heresy. I call this the "friends and family defense" - "Guys, you know me, you've known me all my life!" (Spoiler alert, it rarely works!)

It is true that Paul's manner of life has always been known to these Jews. He has always been a devout, faithful Jew, even becoming a Pharisee. They have turned against him not because he is no longer devout or faithful, but because he has recognized the fulfillment of the Jewish faith, while his persecutors are not yet ready to. So Paul has not changed his faith, nor the core of who he is, he has not turned from God, but for the Jews who do not see the truth, he seems to have changed drastically.

This brings to mind so many of my thoughts over the last four years. People who have known me all my life, and know who I am, turned against me so completely and sometimes with such vitriol, it was astounding. I kept wondering "Have I changed? Am I wrong?" It forced me to really evaluate and discern my thoughts and actions. I came to the conclusion that, like Paul, I had not changed who I am, if anything I was becoming more fully who I meant to be, but in many ways it seemed I had changed to those I loved because they were not ready to see the truth that I saw so clearly. I don't know why or how some people were able to see the truth while others could not, but I trust that it is part of God's plan, and that the ones who do see it are meant to help the others in any way we can.

To bring His plan to its fulfillment, God reveals certain things to certain people. Jesus revealed himself to Paul in a big way, changing the course of Paul's life drastically, and setting him on a course of evangelization that has never been equaled. In a much more subtle fashion, God revealed the truth to some during the COVID years. We are given a mission similar to Paul's, to keep speaking the truth.

The truth is that we are in a spiritual battle unequaled in modern history, and God wants as many on the right side as possible. We must speak and live the truth until others see, we must lead them gently but inexorably to the truth. Like Paul, we also have had to suffer, and may suffer more, but Jesus promised us nothing more. The "friends and family defense" may not work even with people who have known us all our lives, but no one knows us better than God, and He knows what He has called us to do.