OPENING EYES

Paul, an apostle, tells and re-tells his Damascus Road conversion experience three times in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. It is a powerful story. Before King Agrippa, he tells how the Lord appeared to him with blinding light and a voice that called him to minister to the Gentiles. Paul retold what Jesus had said to him:

“I will deliver you from your people (the Jews) and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, to open their eyes and 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 of the Apostles 26:17-18)

As Paul is sent, we are sent:
To open the eyes of those who cannot see they are living in darkness
To turn them from darkness to light
To show the way out from the power of Satan
To the Kingdom of God
That they may receive forgiveness of sins
And an inheritance with the saved
To be sanctified (freed from sin and to be set apart for God’s special use and purpose)
Saved and set apart for God by faith in Jesus

Nothing has changed concerning our responsibility with the Good News. We to have to have our eyes opened and then help others to see.

(Note: The three texts of Paul’s Damascus Road conversion Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:1-21, and Acts 26:9-23.)

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” Jesus