A CHANGE OF HEART

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

(Based on Acts 9:1-27 and other New Testament passages.)

 

Saul was on his way to the high priest to ask him for any letters to the synagogues in Damascus that might reveal if there were any Christians there. His intention was to take them prisoner and deliver them to Jerusalem for trial. Every devout Jew he met he asked if they knew anyone who professed to be a Christian. His sole purpose in life was to eradicate this new religious sect who believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He constantly made it his goal to speak murderous threats against the disciples of Jesus. If he couldn’t arrest all of them he would intimidate them with fear. Possibly they would leave the country rather than be stoned to death.

 

As Saul drew close to Damascus, 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?”

 

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,”

 

“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

 

Saul’s traveling companions stood speechless. They had heard the sound but could 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 was very concerned. Here he had been persecuting those that followed Jesus and now he had learned that Jesus really was the Son of God. The blindness was overwhelming but more so because he was left to ponder in darkness the deeds he had done against the disciples of Jesus. What would God do with him?

 

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision.

 

“Ananias!”

 

“Yes, Lord,”

 

“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

 

“Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

 

“Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

 

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said;

 

“Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

 

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Saul was overjoyed. To receive his sight again gave him hope that God would have mercy on him for all the cruel acts he had committed against Jesus’ followers. He got up and was baptized for now he wished to be a disciple of Christ. After taking some food Saul felt better and sensed his strength and health returning. One of the first things Saul wanted to do was take a new name that reflected his newfound faith. Saul was a Roman name and he wanted to take a name that reflected his Jewish heritage and also his commitment to Jesus Christ. Saul chose to now become known as Paul. Paul meant “little” and he wanted to be known as Paul to reflect the humble service he desired to render to God and all those who followed Christ.

 

Paul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. He learned many things from them about the life and ministry of Jesus.

 

Being very well educated in the scriptures Saul immediately began to see the connection between Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and the Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah.

 

He at once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Paul grew more and more influential and baffled the Jewish religious leaders living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. His knowledge of scripture and his ability to speak with the power of God was amazing. It was really true that God had caused a change of heart within Paul that would reach out not just to the Jewish community but also to all those who were Gentiles.

 

After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Paul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

 

Paul then went to Jerusalem to meet other disciples of Jesus but when he tried to join them they were afraid of him. They couldn’t believe that his heart had been changed from one who hated Jesus and Christians to one who served their Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Paul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly.

 

Paul was accepted with love and became a great evangelist, church planter and zealous man of God serving Christ to the end of his life where he was beheaded by Roman authorities for his dedication to Jesus Christ.

 

Paul is a prime example of what can happen when you yield yourself to the Lord. While God does not often demonstrate Himself by shining a bright light, taking our sight or audibly speaking to us; we are surrounded by numerous witnesses and opportunities to respond to Him. God reaches into each of our lives and seeks to call us to Him. He places people in our path who speak His name and share about His life. We face trials and struggles that sometimes are meant to drive us to Him for comfort and rescue. Such hardships also enable us to relate to those of similar difficulties and minister to them as Jesus Christ would.

 

The Holy Spirit works in a variety of ways to call us to Jesus. The question is how long will we fail to respond to His love? How long will we resist having a change of heart? How long will we resist seeking a relationship with Him? If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I would encourage you to investigate the life of Jesus Christ in the Holy Scriptures, pray that He would demonstrate the Truth of His Word and life to you in a very personal way. He will answer such a prayer if you simply ask Him to do so. If you pray that prayer, be looking for how He will intervene in your life to bring you into a personal loving relationship with Him and other Disciples of Christ.

 

Romans 3:23

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”

 

Romans 2:5-11

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’  To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”

 

Romans 10:10-13

“It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

 

1 John 1:9,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”