In John 16:2 Jesus told his disciples: “They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”
Later on, in Acts 8, that time had come. Saul, a young man had witnessed and approved of the stoning of Stephen which was the beginning of a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. Believers were scattered abroad, except for the disciples. (Acts 8: 1)
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, even forcing his way into the houses and taking men and women prison, while the ones scattered abroad preached the word. Finally, Saul, threatening to slaughter them all, went to the high priest and asked for papers giving him permission to go into Damascus, capture the believers and return them in chains to Jerusalem.
However, something happened on the road to Damascus that would change Saul (later called Paul) and alter the course of his life forever. Acts 9: 3-23
As he and others traveled to Damascus, a sudden bright light from heaven appeared around Saul. Frightened, the men all fell to the ground. A voice…the sound of thunder to those around him….said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Trembling with fright and unable to see, Saul stammered, “Lord, who are you?”
And the Lord said, “It is I, Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”
He trembled all the more. “Wh-what do you want me to do?”
“Get up,” Jesus told him, “and go into the city and there you’ll be told what to do.”
The men with him shuddered, seeing no man, but hearing the voice. Saul stumbled to his feet. The light was gone, but still he was unable to see. “Help me, he said reaching out his hand. They rushed to his side, realizing that he was blind. They led him to a house in Damascus and tried to make him comfortable. For three days, he waited, neither eating or drinking.
The Lord appeared to a believer in Damascus named Ananias and told him to go to Straight Street to a house and ask for a man named Saul. “He is praying. He has seen in a vision that a man named Ananias will come, put a hand on him and he’ll receive his sight.”
“But Lord,” Ananias said, I have heard about this man. He has papers to arrest anyone who calls on your name.”
The Lord said, “go, for he has been chosen by me to bring the good news to the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Ananias did as he was told and entered into the house where Saul was. “Brother Saul,” he said, placing his hands on him. “The Lord, who you met on the road, has sent me, Ananias, that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Immediately, it was as if scales fell from his eyes and he received his sight. Right away he went and was baptized, then he ate to regain his strength.
Saul spent a few days among the believers in Damascus, then he went to the synagogue to preach that Christ is the Son of God.The people were skepticle and said, “Isn’t this the same man that was hunting down the believers and taking them back in chains to Jerusalem?”
Saul’s preaching became bolder and many accepted the truth of his testimony and were baptized. Soon, the Jews became angry and vowed to kill him. God protected him at every turn and Saul, now known as Paul, became the disciple who brought the message of God to the Gentiles.
Centuries later, in America, a young man named Ben, who had grown up in poverty with a single mom and one brother found himself consumed by a feeling of anger….anger at himself, his circumstances and life in general. His mom, determined that her boys would grow up and not become victims of the life they had to live, insisted they read everyday and write her book reports. She encouraged them to use their brains and be self-sufficient The family attended church and tried to make the best of their situation. Their mother worked to keep food on the table and clothes on their backs.
One day, while working on a project, Ben’s anger was making him restless and frustrated. He had his radio tuned to a classic station, which generally helped to calm him down. Today, it didn’t seem to be working. A companion started to chide him about his choice of music. “Why you listening to that crap, man?” he asked, changing the station.
Ben changed the station back.”It beats the crap you listen to,” he said, feeling his anger rise.
The boy reached to change the radio again and without thinking, Ben gripped a knife he’d been working with and lunged it at him. The knife blade made contact with the boy’s belt buckle, broke and fell to the ground.
Ben looked down at the broken blade and the realization of what he had almost done horrified him. He gasped and ran home as fast as he could. Once there, he grabbed his Bible and went into the bathroom. If anybody could help him with this anger, it was God.
Sometime later, after pouring his heart out to the Lord who always hears our heartfelt pleas for forgiveness and restoration, Ben exited the bathroom. He was no longer filled with anger and vowed never to be again. There was a lightness to his step and with great relief, he thanked God for saving his soul and himself from what could have happened. That day he decided to follow Jesus and never looked back.
The young man went on to become the most renowned and successful neurosurgeon in the world. His specialty was brain surgery in the field of pediatrics. The man is now retired and God has placed another goal in front of him….to become President of the United States.
By now, you know I’m talking about Republican candidate, Dr. Ben Carson. Only time will tell whether he reaches his goal or not as he says as long as God opens the doors, he will go through them. If God says to give it up, he will. A brain surgeon in the White House just might be what this country needs….especially one who puts his trust in Jesus Christ, not in the power of politics.
Like Paul, since telling his story….his testimony….the people have tried to find fault and prove Dr, Carson made up the whole thing just to win votes. The media has vetted every claim he has made, but found no proof to verify their accusations. He is rising in the polls and is number one in some of them at this point.
It bothers me that so many have a problem believing that stories such as these of Paul and Ben Carson happen in the lives of people every day. God is at work, healing hearts, saving lives and souls from hell. Not every one’s experience is so dramatic, but all have the same end result….a change of heart. Why is it so hard to believe? Are too many of us not telling our stories of how Jesus came into our hearts and set us free? He calls every person to be a believer. He chooses those who answer the call and are faithful. May we not miss His call…. and be among His chosen ones on the day of judgement.
