Saul Sees the Light

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 9:1-19

 

Acts 9:3-5

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

(ESV)

 

Anyone who has stubbed their toe while walking in a dark room knows the dangers of walking in darkness.  One of the best ways to describe the year 2020 is a year of darkness.  It began with the Covid19 outbreak and an unprecedented shutdown of the nation’s economy destroying the prosperity that had occurred over the previous three years.  The darkness then spread to riots in the streets with cities defunding their police departments allowing those with evil intent free access to the cities to commit their riotous and murderous behavior.  The world around us is wandering around in darkness and needs of the light of the world, Jesus Christ (John 8:12). 

 

The Bible first introduces readers to Saul as the Pharisee holding the coats of those stoning Stephen (Acts 7:58).  Emboldened by the execution of Stephen, Saul begins to ravage the Church going house to house imprisoning believers (Acts 8:3).  At the beginning of this text, Saul goes to the high priest asking for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so he could imprison any believers in Damascus by bringing them bound to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).  Saul, like many of the Jewish religious leaders of his time, is in darkness, choosing not to recognize Jesus as the light of the world (John 8:12).  Fortunately for Saul, God has a grander plan for his life.  

 

Saul was not seeking an encounter with God and thinking about rounding up Jewish believers in Damascus and bringing them to Jerusalem to face trial or even execution like happened to Stephen.  However, God is seeking Saul with the light of the world shining upon him from heaven with such intensity that it causes Saul to go blind (Acts 9:3-8).  In addition to a bright light, Saul hears from the Lord who asks why he is persecuting Him (Acts 9:4).  Saul’s response is asking the Lord for his identity to which the Lord says he is Jesus Christ, the one he is persecuting (Acts 9:5).  This is similar to when Moses asked God for his name with the Lord responding that He is the I Am (Exodus 3:14).  The only difference with Saul is God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ making things more personal (Acts 9:5). 

 

At this point, Saul’s thoughts might have flashed back to Stephen’s speech where he reminded the Jewish religious leaders questioning him of their history of disobedience and the murder of prophets foretelling the coming Messiah, Jesus, whom they also murdered by calling for His crucifixion.  Saul has had a personal encounter with the I Am, Jesus Christ, and now must contemplate what he should do, something he most likely did during his three days of fasting while waiting for Ananias (Acts 9:9). 

 

The text now switches to Ananias who does not have the benefit of witnessing the miraculous conversion of Saul.  The Lord asks Ananias to do the unthinkable and go to the house of Judas and pray for Saul, the man arresting Christians, so he can receive his sight (Acts 9:10-14).  The Lord responds by telling Ananias Saul was a chosen instrument with a calling to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel (Acts 9:15).  The Lord also speaks of the suffering Saul will himself endure suffering for his new faith in Jesus as his Savior and Messiah (Acts 9:16). 

 

Ananias obediently does as the Lord commands him to do with Saul receiving his sight, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being baptized as a public profession of his faith (Acts 9:17-18).  Saul then receives food and is strengthened with him spending some days with the disciples in Damascus (Acts 9:19).  This time with the disciples is where Saul received valuable teaching from Christ through those that walked with Him, preparing him for ministry. 

 

The conversion of Saul teaches us,

 

1)      Nobody is beyond receiving salvation from God.

2)      Others may have doubts about our salvation remembering our past life (Acts 9:14).

3)      One must have faith in God to save those that seem impossible to save. 

 

Saul was not seeking an encounter with God, but God was seeking an encounter with Saul and got his attention on the road to Damascus.  Perhaps you are reading this post and feel a tug on your heart to ask for forgiveness from sin by accepting Jesus as your personal savior.  This tug on your heart is the Lord getting your attention and while it may not be as dramatic as the conversion of Saul, it is God seeking you so He can have a relationship with you.  Please pray with me now and begin your personal relationship with God,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations on seeing the light of salvation through Christ and take a moment to celebrate with this video from David Crowder.  May God bless everyone reading this post and may God’s light shine brightly on you and through you in this dark world.