01.15.15 

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” - Acts 9:1-6 NKJV. 

One night this week, I got out of bed in the dark to walk to the bathroom. I seemed to have enough light to see where I was going, although I usually take a flashlight. However, I apparently fell asleep while walking, but I woke up when my head slammed into a wall! While I was sleep walking, I thought I could see where I was going and I believed I was on the right path. It was a sudden shock to realize how wrong my perception of reality was. 

Saul was likely in charge of the execution of the godly Stephen (Acts 7:58-60). You could say that Saul was a religious fanatic determined to eradicate those of “the Way” who believed Jesus was God’s Messiah. There was absolutely no doubt in Saul’s mind that he was doing the will of God by killing those errant people who had gone off the rails blaspheming the One true God. However, Saul was completely absolutely wrong, and he ran into a wall of truth because Jesus is “…the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).” Jesus says in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Saul slammed into the wall of Truth and the Truth blinded Saul making him fall to the ground. Then, the Truth set Saul free when Saul finally understood that Jesus was God. 

In the world today, we have seen the rise of the Islamic religious fanatics who are absolutely completely convinced that they are on the right road with their lives. These religious fanatics are similar to Saul, in that they believe wrongly that it is their religious duty to wipe off the face of the earth all those who do not believe as they do. I pray that they will run into the same wall of Truth as did Saul before it is everlastingly too late for them. 

Sadly, it is not just religious fanatics that are walking down the wrong roads, the wrong paths, with their lives. Many today appear to be blissfully unaware of the reality of their need for Jesus. These blissfully unaware people are rushing full speed ahead toward a wall of Truth where they will slam into eternity facing judgment by the One true God. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).” “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:17-18).” What do you do if you are not sure if you are on the right road with your life? The Psalmist says this: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).”