REFLECTIONS

Blinded by the Light

Nothing had ever been so purely white or so intensely bright. Its brilliance was blinding. Then the sound of a voice dropped Saul to his knees.

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.[1]

 This part of Saul’s story is an example of God’s intervention into someone’s life. Until that moment, Saul believed he was pursuing God’s plan. He had never paused to consider otherwise.

Saul trained under Gamaliel, Israel’s most esteemed teacher, in preparation to be the dedicated Pharisee he was. He commanded respect from his peers and compliance from his subordinates. With zealous and steely eyes he approvingly watched the stoning when Stephen took his stand for Jesus. Saul was a champion for God’s law. It was his calling to be—at least he believed it was. Then that defining moment found him on his knees, blinded by the Light.

 For three days, Saul was unable to see where he was going. For three days he had time to reflect on what he had done and to wonder what might be in store. Then his sight was restored. His way became clear. He had a new job and a new name. Paul became a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher, who championed the true faith to the Gentiles.[2]        

 Not often does someone experience such a dramatic encounter with the Lord; yet in some manner most of us reach a point when the path we are on reaches a moment of crisis. Sometimes a new door is opened. Sometimes a door closes, and sometimes God drops us to our knees with a blinding light that makes us unable to find our way.

 But God has a plan for each of us just as he did for Paul. It may take a while to discover it. But the psalmist reminds us to “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” [3] Paul did and the Lord directed his path.

And he will direct ours.

 You are the light of the world,

Richard+

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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