SAUL: PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST AND CONVERSION Acts 9:3-9; 26:11-15; 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Matthew 25:40; Luke 6:46; Hebrew 5:9; Acts 8:3; 1 Timothy 1:13). “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:3,4). This sudden encounter with Christ on his (Saul‟s) way to Damascus marked the great change in his life. It was indeed a change most profound. The light which enveloped Saul and his co-travellers was not ordinary. Its brilliance overpowered the brightness of the noonday. In that light, he had a vision of Christ, heard His voice for the first time. Barnabas was to declare later to other apostles “how that he (Saul) had seen the Lord in the way” (verse 27). Saul himself (later called Paul) said concerning the Damascus road encounter that, “And last of all he was seen of me” (l Corinthians 15:8). The sum total of all he experienced and heard on that road was his conversion and transformation. What is conversion, and how can the sinner be converted? Conversion can be described as a turning around from self and Satan to God. It can also be described as a turning from darkness to light, from unbelief to faith and reliance upon God. It can also be defined as “turning from idols (of whatever form) unto the living God”. It is characterized by a change of attitude, disposition, lifestyle to the glory of God and obedience of the faith that is in Christ. In a real sense, conversion can be seen as a return to God‟s original purpose for man‟s creation. For Saul, this definition was practically expressed in the change it brought to his life and character. The testimony of his conversion which he often mentioned in his epistles is very clear. He “who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious...” and confessed that “beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it” declared after his conversion that “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1 Timothy 1:13; Galatians 1:13; Philippians 1:21). Some professing believers do not have this kind of testimony today. They tell stories of their affiliation with the church or change of names. Conversion is possible only through repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Saul‟s attitude and behaviour after his encounter with Christ provide evidence of his conversion and salvation. Truly, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. His new attitude and direction were manifested in the following: (i) Whereas he, in the past, thought that by persecuting Christians he was doing service to God, he now realized his ignorance and foolishness. This teaches us that in man‟s spiritual blindness and ignorance, he often injures the very cause he wishes to promote. (ii) His attitude and disposition towards Christ changed dramatically. Whereas he was before a blasphemer, he now called Christ Lord with prompt obedience to His word. (iii) He expressed by word and deed a total resignation to the will of Christ as summed up in his word, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (iv) (iv) He signified a readiness henceforth to be led and directed by Christ. (v) He sealed his newness of life and character with prompt and practical obedience. When the Lord commanded, “Arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do”, he did just that and promptly. Proofs of Saul’s conversion. Saul‟s changed life contrasts sharply with the attitude of some who claim to be born again. They neither deliberately seek the knowledge of God‟s will nor take heed to the word of God when it is read and explained. When they receive clear and express command from the word of God, they subject it to modifications to suite their will. To such, the Lord asks a heart searching question, Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him” (verse 29). As his subsequent testimonies show, none of the things he suffered for Christ moved him from his initial steadfastness and consecration to Christ. Paul, relating this experience later repeated Christ‟s commission to him saying, “for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”. He added his response to Christ‟s commission and purpose of his conversion. He declared that “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance”. What the world waits for now is the testimony of the believer‟s obedience to the great commission the way the early believers who truly believed did. The believer is saved to serve God in soul-winning and must be more zealous than religious fanatics who have a commission from Satan to waste the church of God. Powerful praying and preaching can still make another Saul a preacher of the gospel as Christ is still the same yesterday, today and forever.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:09:40 +0000
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