Seeing Blind
I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life. – 1 Tim. 1:15-16
The story of Saul’s conversion is not only one of the greatest testimonies of grace recorded in the Bible, but also a model to us. According to Acts 8 and 9, Saul was mercilessly persecuting the church of God, going into the homes of believers to arrest both men and women and drag them off to prison, because the idea of salvation through faith was inconceivable.He was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and was approaching Damascus on the mission of arresting any followers of the Way to take them back to Jerusalem in chains. – But God had a different plan! “We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps.” (Prov. 16:9)
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. (Acts 9:3-6)
Saul met Jesus! You would have thought that the greatest of punishments was waiting for the “worst sinner of all”, yet the light of Jesus’ glory met him.
Light does so many things when it interacts with matter, but most importantly, it always reveals what the thing is. The transformation of Saul begins with the revelation of who Jesus is. The One he has persecuted has always been chasing him with love. Can you imagine the thoughts of Paul at this moment? His whole life has been dedicated to perfecting the law to please God. Now he realizes he was not serving God, as he had thought, he was actually opposing Him!
This light from heaven shined so bright that it left Paul blind for three days—that is, until Ananias laid hands on him (Acts 9:17) and prayed. God blinded him and also took it away, letting him see the spiritual darkness he was living in.
It was in that encounter that Paul found not only the truth about who Jesus was, but also the purpose he had: “He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles.” (Acts 9:15) – Revelation always empowers.
Today, we remember the Apostle Paul not for persecuting Christians, but for boldly preaching the message that brings light to the darkness. The radical conversion of Paul, the least likely to be converted, is a model to us – It was for our sake that Jesus did it the way he did it.
Paul was set apart for God, and so are you.