A Blinding Light
By Shauna Leis
“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing...”
Acts 9:3-8
Saul was a legalist to a fault. He was so convinced that following the rules and regulations within the Old Testament Law was the way to God and righteousness. He had studied the teachings of the rabbi Hillel, which was a very progressive branch of Judaism. Most importantly, he was responsible for persecuting the church in his time because it did not fit with the teachings he had learned all of his life. Each of us has encountered the type – they see others who are not the same as them as obstacles to be removed and sometimes even destroyed. Saul was determined to rid the earth of this new sect that had surfaced following “The Way,” or the teachings of Christ.
The journey to Damascus was a journey intended to capture even more of these “followers” and bring them back to Jerusalem for persecution. However, God had a detour planned for Saul that would change his life forever. While on the road, a blinding light flashed above Saul and brought him to his knees. He had indeed met his match this time. This was not just a believer ready to martyr himself for “The Way;” this was El Shaddai, God Almighty.
Saul’s blindness was both internal and external. God blinded him physically to force him to look inside himself and acknowledge his own spiritual blindness. Have you ever noticed that sometimes it takes an act of God to force us into the realization that the path we are heading down will eventually lead us to destruction? Spiritual blindness plagues many of us along the way in our faith walks. We look with our eyes but do not see with our minds or our hearts. God deals with each of our blindness in a way that is as unique as we are. For Saul, drastic times required drastic measures.
After being blinded, Saul’s companions led him to the town of Damascus where he remained for three days, fasting. Can you imagine what these companions must have been thinking? They had been with Saul when he watched the angry mob stone Stephen to death. They were going with Saul now to capture more of Christ’s followers. And in the midst of it all, they heard a voice speaking from heaven above but did not see anything. Is that not just like God – he makes it specific for just the person it was intended to reach!
At the end of the three days, one of God’s disciples went to Saul and placed his hands over Saul’s eyes. Verse 18 says, “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.” Saul’s conversion was complete. He remained with the disciples and began preaching about this Christ whose followers he had once persecuted. Conversions require a thorough shift from one direction to another. The Webster Dictionary defines conversion as “a change in character, form or function; physical transformation from one material or state to another.”
Can you remember when you saw your blinding light? There have been several times in my life that God has attempted to catch my attention, but there is one that took more than most. So many times before, I attempted the external change but did not do much on the inside. Then, several years ago, God forced me to my knees to acknowledge the depths of my sin and the pit that I had made into my home. This time, my transformation started from the inside out.
How has your conversion gone? Has yours been a complete transformation, a change in character from the inside out? God wants us to give all that we are to Him so that He can fill us with His Holy Spirit. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” God will transform your heart, mind, and soul if you will only let Him in.
Pray with me: Dear Jesus, Lord we know that just like Saul, we are guilty of persecuting You each and every day with our self righteousness attitudes. Lord, we pray that You will blind us spiritually so that we can assess our lives and turn over all those areas that are not glorifying You. Then remove our blindness so that we, too, can be effective in our ministries for You. Just like Saul, make our conversion complete. Leave nothing untouched. Transform our minds, hearts, and souls. We love You so very much and pray all of this in Your precious name! Amen.