The journey of
faith isn’t easy. We listen to new ideas about this mystery of God and faith;
we experience God in different ways…and we have to let go of some things that
no longer fit with our encounter with God.
The
people we’ve heard about today in the Scriptures began their life journey going
one direction but God through Jesus changed them and their journey took a
different path than they were on at first.
We’ve
heard how Saul went to the high priest asking for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, search warrants to try and ferret out the followers of the way. Saul
was like a rat terrier in his desire to weed out and destroy those whom he
thought were poisoning the Law of God.
Saul
knew he was right in what he was doing. He studied the Law under Gamaliel so he
knew the interpretation of the Torah. He knew this is what God wanted him to
do. It was the “right” thing to do. In his mind there was no question that he
was right.
But…something
happened on the road to Damascus. There was a light…and a voice. He didn’t
recognize the voice and he didn’t understand what was happening to him. He
couldn’t see a thing. Everything went black, black as the deepest, darkest
cave. His friends had to help him find his way into town.
It’s
ironic in a way that his friends took him to Judas, the one who lived on
Straight Street. He didn’t realize that his live was going to take a turn he
never envisioned. His journey was going to be anything but straight.
There
he was blind as anyone could ever be. He didn’t feel like eating or drinking
all he could do was talk to God and hope that he’d hear his prayers for help.
It was beyond anything he could imagine when in this blackness he had a vision.
There was man, someone called Ananias, praying for him and laying hands on him.
He didn’t know any Ananias. And so, he continued to pray.
On
the third day there was a knock at the door of Judas’ home. He heard a voice
and then there were hands on him. From the sound of the voice he could tell it
was a man. He said his name was Ananias and Jesus had called for him to go to
Straight Street and find this man named Saul who’d been struck blind.
Ananias
put his hands on Saul and he prayed for him. Saul had never experienced
anything like this. His sight returned. It was like scales fell from his eyes.
Just
like that he realized he was starving…and very thirsty. So, he ate. Then he
went to the temple to preach and teach that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.
He stayed there quite a few days.
What
do you think it must have been like for Saul to experience hearing Jesus’
voice, to be struck blind, to have someone, a Christian, a follower of the Way,
pray for him and lay hands on him? The very people he’d been hunting down and
sending back to Jerusalem were praying for him, feeding him, and now he was
teaching them about Jesus the Christ.
Just
imagine the emotional trauma he must have experienced as his Jewish faith was
tested. Imagine the conflict in his mind, in his very soul, as God revealed
Jesus to him as the Christ. It had to be painful, pure torture at first, until
he began to feel the hope that Jesus’ sacrifice meant for him and the Gentiles
and the people of Israel. And he was
forgiven completely.
God
called him to carry the Good News of God’s kingdom to the Gentiles in Asia and
eventually to Rome. Imagine the turmoil that must have been going on in his
head. No wonder God waited 3 days before sending Ananias to him. Think of all
those things he had to discard and bury so he could begin his new life.
A
seed had been planted. It took root and in three days Saul was ready to do what
God called him to do; take the Message to the Gentiles. Wow!
Compare
you journey with Saul’s. Has your journey been anything like his? Have there
been any detours or 180’s?
When
we invite the Lord Jesus to walk with us most times the journey is anything but
straight. There’ve probably been a few bumps, a few hills to climb, maybe some
steep descents.
Don’t
you wonder why we choose to stay with it, to continue doing this work for God
again and again and again?
Jesus
sent his disciples out with next to nothing. Think about what we have and what
we could do with it to make disciples, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Journeying
with Jesus is a challenge. It will change us. Living with and for Jesus may
even change how we live.
Saul
was blinded by the light. He struggled with his demons for 3 days, not eating
or drinking. Then a man he’d never met came and prayed for him. His eyes were
opened and he was a completely different man.
In
those 3 days Jesus showed him what suffering he’d have to endure to tell this
story he’d been given. Think what that must have been like for someone who
thought he knew the law inside and out.
That’s
what Jesus did for Saul. What do you think he’ll do for you? How is he calling
you today? Is there a battle going on inside your heart over what Jesus is
asking you to do? Do you need someone to put their hands on your head, around
your shoulders and pray for you so you can see clearly again?
Friends,
we can do that. This life is about more than coming to worship, singing three
or four songs and listening to prayers and then going home. This life following
Jesus is way different. There is suffering. There is hurt. There is conflict.
There is hate…and there is love and healing and peace. Are you ready for that?
God
loves you my friends and so do I. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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