"Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Acts 22:6-11
Paul’s words in (v.1-5), and then into (v.6-11), are in essence saying. “Listen, I was just like you! I opposed Christianity too—more vehemently than you! But then something changed everything. That something was a personal encounter with Jesus Christ!” From there Paul begins to explain his encounter with Jesus.
I was on my way to persecute Christians, traveling as far as Damascus, Syria to do so!
I was surrounded by a blinding light which knocked me to the ground. Paul pointed out that it was noon. The sun was already shining brightly, but the light that came to him was supernaturally brighter than the brightest sunlight! It was supernatural since the light was Jesus Christ, “the Light of the world!” (John 8:12).
I heard a voice, questioning me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” The voice Paul heard was, of course, the voice of Jesus (v.8). Note from Jesus’s words that to persecute Jesus’s people is to persecute Him! That is how much Jesus loves and associates Himself with those He is pleased to save. When we hurt, He hurts! This is not only a lesson for persecutors about their mistreatment of God’s people. It is a sober warning to Christians who abuse other believers, or who otherwise dishonor Christ’s Church. Think about that!
Not only should we learn from Jesus’s use of the word, ”Me,” but also from the word “why.” Why on earth do people attack Christ and His people? Why on earth would people disregard Christ and His people? The answer is simple. Sin so blinds people that in our natural (unsaved) state we (a) are ignorant of who Christ is, and/or (b) are foolish enough to oppose Him. We have more chance of extinguishing the sun by screaming at it to stop shining, than of successfully opposing the Son of Almighty God.
Though every conversion experience is not as dramatic as Paul’s, the only hope for all who are lost in sin, is an encounter with Christ. It is called being born again. Thank God that He revealed Himself to you. Never stop praying that He would reveal Himself to those you know and love who do not know Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
More next time…