Blinded By the Light

I have seen and heard some say that when we are born again, there is not much change, but I don't agree with that conclusion. Mainly because of the conversion of Saul and the new direction of Paul. Acts 9: ³ Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; ⁴ and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, ⁶ but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” ⁷ The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Keep in mind that Saul was headed to Damascus, with his sights set on killing more of those who followed The Way, or Christians, like you and me. Jesus met Him on the road with a brilliant light, and Saul was blinded to the direction he was headed. Jesus gave Him instructions to go on into the city. Saul still went to Damascus, but now he was under a new direction, the direction of the one he had been persecuting up to this point. He was blinded to the direction HE was heading and redirected after this experience with the Son of God. Jesus had plans for Saul, and He has plans for you and me.

So Jesus sends one of His disciples to go to Saul and tell him his new direction. Acts 9:¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; ¹⁹ and he took food and was strengthened. When Ananias laid His hand on Saul, Saul received the Holy Spirit, and Ananias told Saul his new direction and that He would now be able to SEE. So when Paul writes the following words to the church at Ephesus, he is talking about something he has experienced. Ephesians 1: ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Whether you realize it or not, you have been blinded to the ways and direction of this world, and God has opened your vision to see life in a whole different way, and with a different life direction, and this is your faith walk. I call it your faith walk because we need to trust God in this whole direction, so He will impact others through us. What a blessing and what a privilege God has bestowed on us. Paul knew that we needed God's help and direction every moment of every day, and that is why he wrote the following words to the church in Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 5: ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. This new vision for life is exciting, scary, and full of new adventures if you are willing to allow God to change your perspective, but it will be held back if you follow the same old same old, or let dead religion rule your life. Some people who are so steeped in their old, dead religion need to be blinded to that path and wake up to a whole new direction that is perfectly lined out by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit as Paul's new guide, He would never have done what he was able to do, and neither will we if we ignore God's new vision with a new faith walk. Why deny it? Possibly fear? Possibly laziness? Possibly too much world and not enough Holy Spirit. Whatever it is, give it up for Jesus. Be open to God's call and you will hear it.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren