15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cepheus (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days.19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:15-19
While Saul’s conversion was immediate, he did not travel immediately to command central in Jerusalem to hob nob with the apostles. It was at least three years before he landed there, and then he only met with Peter and James. Nevertheless, his fame grew.
I’ve always been impressed by his time in Arabia and the fact that “three years later” is noted. There was a time period even in Saul’s life to make the transition to Paul. I’ve always taken this time of seasoning and simmering to equate to a seminary experience. Even Paul had to arrange his theology systematically.
I didn’t go to seminary but wanted to. In its place I took a few Moody courses and listened to MacArthur and Swindoll on my 45 minute daily commutes for five years and found myself a Bible church well stocked with stalwarts in the faith who the Lord saw fit to personally disciple me. It was an amazing time. On this foundation, I was prepared for service in that church and in my spheres of life.
The Lord led me to lead and teach two young marrieds classes, lead the effort to bring Campus Crusade’s Family Life ministry to Tampa, and serve as a deacon and elder in the church, while beginning a 30 year involvement providing a firm (bass) foundation to the budding realm of praise and worship music. All this was done after one of my disciplers prophesied after strongly advising against me uprooting to go to seminary, that “everything that I’d ever wanted to do could be done in the local church.” This “retired” pastor, well into his 80’s, bounced Billy Graham on his knee (literally) in his church’s nursery back in the day. I obeyed.
Of course, I was married to my faithful and may I add stunningly beautiful partner in all this dust cloud of activity, and as did Philip the evangelist, we were called to “settle down” and raise four children, who have now spawned 13 little “mission fields.” Sometimes best laid plans need a bit of refining by the “man in charge.” If it takes three years or more, so be it!
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