[Biblemat] A>The Power To Change (Kent Heaton)

[Kent Heaton]

The Power To Change

(Kent Heaton)

 

Nothing is more remarkable than the change that took place over three days in the Syrian city of Damascus nearly two-thousand years ago. Saul had come to the city to bring "any who were of the Way, whether men or women . bound to Jerusalem" (Acts 9:2). His intensity of threats and murder against the disciples (Acts 9:1) had put him at the point of the Jewish spear to root out and destroy the followers of Christ. He confessed later to Agrippa that he thought he must do many "things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities" (Acts 26:9-11). The aged Apostle would reflect to his young protégé Timothy that he was a "blasphemer, a persecutor and an insolent man" (1 Timothy 1:13) and the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

But then came his mission to Damascus. No one would have foreseen the change that would take place in the life of this Benjamite; this Hebrew of Hebrews and Pharisee. Saul of Tarsus met Jesus of Nazareth and Saul's life would forever be altered. He "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 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 9:4-6) Blinded, Saul arose and entered the city and "he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9). 

Ananias would come and show Saul the work the Lord had for him to do. His sight returned, "he arose and was baptized" (Acts 9:18) and "spent some days with the disciples at Damascus" (Acts 9:19). For the rest of his life, Saul would be known as Paul the apostle and always live for Christ - the one he earlier sought to destroy. How could such a change take place in a man? 

While Paul characterized himself as the persecutor and those things he carried out were done "in all good conscience" (Acts 23:1) he had one focus that remained constant in his life. Saul of Tarsus loved the Almighty Jehovah God. What he did against the "Way" was because in his mind they stood against his God. His passion for God was intense - though misguided - and he never offered an excuse for what he did. His actions were in ignorance according to unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13). That unbelief became intense belief in Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God when he learned the truth.

Saul did not fancy himself with the pride of men nor with the religious motives of selfishness. When he saw that he was wrong, he made immediate change and "took no prisoners" (literally and figuratively). His change took place in the words of the Lord - "not as I will, but as thou will" (Matthew 26:39). It was total; it was complete; it was his dying devotion to God that led him to serve the Son of God. 

If Saul of Tarsus can be a faithful disciple of Christ, why is it so hard for you and me to change? What do we have in our lives that are more difficult to overcome than what Saul gave up immediately? The power to change is left to the will of man. We change what we want to change. To serve the Lord, our change must be total.


Kent Heaton
206 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida 32693
352-463-6916
352-283-3889

www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
Trenton Church of Christ

www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
North Florida Bible Camp
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