Sometime between 31-36 AD.
It was an extraordinary mid-day in the life of a young
man, a sworn enemy and persecutor of Christ and the infant Christian Church called “The Way”. This young man was on his way to Damascus with his companions for
arresting the Christians and committing them to prison. He had the authority of
the Chief Priests for the purpose. This young man was none but Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee, well versed in
the Hebrew Old Testament
sacred Scriptures. But he made havoc on the infant Church, entering into every house and haling men
and women committing them to prison.
As Saul and
his men were
about to reach
the city of Damascus, all of a sudden behold, a
bright light from heaven, brighter than the sun surrounded Saul. Immediately, he fell to the ground
and heard a voice,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Saul was overtaken by helplessness and
panic and said, “Who are you,
Lord?” Saul instantly received the reply,
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to
kick against the pricks”. In that
breathtaking moment, Saul
saw the risen
Saviour, and something
extraordinary happened in his heart. The result was amazing! Saul surrendered
his heart to the Lord
Jesus Christ and followed His instructions.
The risen Saviour said to Saul, “I have appeared to you, for this reason, to make you a minister
and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of
the things which
I will yet reveal to you… to open
their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:12-18),
that by the work of the Spirit, the eyes of the understanding of those who are
blinded by Satan are enlightened; through the preaching of the Gospel.
Saul's encounter with Jesus Christ transformed his life altogether. He received forgiveness of his
sins and experienced the joy of salvation by trusting in the expiative work of Christ
on the cross. Saul was no
longer a persecutor of the Church.
He became a transformed man of God, known as Apostle
Paul, the greatest missionary ever known in the history of the Church. He was
chosen by God for turning many from darkness to light and to deliver them that are under the power and control of Satan. God used the transformed Paul for
delivering millions of souls from the stronghold of Satan and leading them to Christ. Besides,
out of twenty-seven books
of the New Testament, thirteen came to be written by Apostle Paul alone,
which stands as an eloquent testimony to the transforming power of God.
Dear reader, God
is willing to transform you too if you commit your life to Jesus. God says,
“Come now and let us reason together, though
your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red
like crimson, they shall be as wool. God has permitted a man to reason with Him (Genesis 18:23-32; Exodus 4:1-17;
Job 23:3-7; Micah 6:2). The loving God does not desire any to
perish in the coming judgment, but all to repent their sins and experience the
joy of salvation (2 Peter 3:9).
Dear reader, if you have not yet received the assurance of salvation, repent your
sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ
as your Saviour
right now.
- by Nadesan K.
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