Blinded by the Light — A LifeWords Devotion

Acts 9:1-4

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?” (NIV)

If I am asked when I became a Christian, I have to say that I have no idea. An ongoing consciousness of the reality of God, my awareness of my shortcomings, and hence my need of grace and mercy, these nudged me towards Jesus. And there I have stayed, albeit with lots of hiccups along the way.

And then we have Saul. One minute a raging enemy of this new faith, and not long after a bold advocate for the faith. Many we know have had similar conversion experiences. From gutter to glory testimonies are shared. Precise dates and times and places are named.

Many of us have observed such dramatic events in others’ lives and yet experienced the disappointment when they fall away, and conclude the tears of joy did not indicate genuine conversion. Turning to Jesus can be a memorable experience or a sequence of such experiences. Or it can be a steady disposition to trust in Jesus over time.

No matter. What matters is that we follow Jesus, that we truly do believe he is who he said he was and did what he was reported to have done. How the journey of faith began is secondary to the need to continue on it. Conversion is not just an event, it is a lifelong process. How I became a Christian runs a distant second to how I live as a Christian.