Seeing the Light

Acts 22:6-11 ESV
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.  And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,  ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me’… ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting…’ since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.”

Saul was brought up in the order of the Pharisees, more than likely from the time he was 12 years old. Even though Saul had known who Jesus was, he certainly did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

Saul was rising in the ranks with the Jewish council giving him their support on squashing this new religion called, “The Way.” Saul had already arrested so many followers of Jesus and lead more to their death.

In a quest to further the campaign, Saul took letters from the council to Damascus to bring more followers of Jesus back for trial. In the process a great light shone so brightly in Saul’s face that it caused him to fall off of his donkey. The light was so intense that Saul lost his sight for 3 days. For 3 days Saul neither ate nor drank.

I call it a period of darkness that Saul had to experience to see he was not as enlightened as he thought, In fact he was in darkness needing to see his condition that he was heading in the wrong direction in life.

When Ananias came to him to pray for healing, Saul received Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and the Messiah. Imagine the experience, you think you are right, only to find out you are wrong and you have devastated the lives of so many people. Saul became Paul that day. One of the greatest witnesses Christianity has ever seen.

Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes to see you and to see the condition of my heart and direct my motives.