Turning Points

Acts 9:1–9

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the LORD’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 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. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”

Saul the then persecutor, transformed here by the presence of Christ, St. Paul writes to the Roman church of patience and enduring faith in the face of opposition, he had been from that side: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the LORD.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:17–21).” In the case of the Christians, Saul the persecutor oppressed, the prayers had been fulfilled! There has been at this point a 180-degree turn, a dramatic about face, this is what happens when we receive such a blessed encounter with God! God rebuked His prophet Jonah when he persistently complained about persevering in preaching to the Ninevites, “But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city (Jon 4:10-11)?” Often, we assume there are those who are “unsaveable”, but only God probes deep within the hearts of each person, the wells of our beings, and so even our worst enemies are never far from the reach of Jesus Christ! It is my hope for many who are averse to anything religious especially Christianity that God would encounter them on whatever road they are in and  blind them with His glorious light that they may see the Truth. When the great missionary to Africa, David Livingstone had a life-threatening incident having lost his medicine, Ravi Zacharias tells us, “he prayed, then he heard steps, and as the story goes, he saw a pair of feet planted in front of him and his countenance lifted for the first time in a long while – he was looking into the face of a white man who didn’t live in Africa. He said, “Who are you, sir?” And the man replied, “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” (Those famous words) He said, “Yes, sir.” “Mr. Livingstone, I’m a press reporter, I’ve been consigned to do a story on your life. I want you to know two things about me. Number one, I’m the biggest swaggering atheist on the face of the earth. Please don’t try to convert me. Number two, somebody sent some medication for you.” David said, “Give me the medication please.” So Mr. Henry M. Stanley started to travel with David Livingstone. Four months later, the biggest swaggering atheist on the face of the earth knelt down on African soil and gave his life to Jesus Christ.” God is awesome and He is an unstoppable force, while I believe He will not impetuously intrude a person’s sacred free will to reject Him, I also believe He can and does orchestrate circumstances and create environments in which we would freely respond to His truth and love just like in the life of the Apostle Paul. God is still completely sovereign and He takes into account the uniqueness of each one of us, after all, “He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit (Psa 147:4-5).” It may not be as dramatic, our coming home to Christ, our own turning points, may be a subtle and gentle easing, but it will certainly be just as memorable!