AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

Acts 9: 5-8

We have all noticed that troublesome kid who is constantly warned by the parents not to touch the burning candle. But the more they say a no to the kid, the more the kid wants to touch the flame. Eventually when the parents are not watching, the kid attempts to touch the flame and in a fraction of a second we hear the kid bawling loudly because the flame was too hot to handle.  

Quite often just like the small kid curious to play and touch the burning flame, we play with God and the things of God. God in His abundant mercy and grace extends a long rope of grace to see how far we do play our games. Then when He eventually sees us going too far, He suddenly snaps the rope,  and that  leaves us on our own to realize our human fraility.

In the passage above, we see Saul who was literally breathing fire and persecuting Christians in Damascus. But on one such journey to Damascus where he had all but planned to trouble and make life a misery for the Jews , he had a life changing encounter with God. Suddenly a light from the sky flashes and he falls to the ground. Please note that he coudnt see God but he only heard the voice, and that voice was enough to shake him and tremble him to ask in submission "who are you"? The reply was emphatic and prompt. “ I am the Lord whom you are persecuting”. When Saul opened his eyes he coudnt see anything at all and for three days he was blind till he was brought to Damascus.

Saul had played enough of his games, troubling and persecuting the Jews at will, but on this trip to Damascus God dealt with him head-on and brought him to his knees and made him realize his fault. This encounter with God changed his life forever.  From a imperious persecutor , he became the most ardent follower of Christ in His time.

Have you had a life transforming Damascus encounter with God?

Paul Samuel
Paul is serving as the Worship Coordinator of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at musicbuff99@gmail.com