Saul, who we know as Paul, found out on the way to Damascus that it is not religion but relationship that is essential. Stephen Covey writes, “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.”[1] Saul built his life by climbing a ladder on the wrong wall until Jesus intervened.
1 Corinthians 1:9 For I (Paul) am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. 10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me.[2] Saul had scholarly information about God but did not have a relationship with Him.
Today, people can do the same thing: get caught up in rituals and information but not have a relationship with Jesus. While Bible knowledge is good, it does not replace knowing Jesus as our Savior. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, He is calling you today to humble yourself and come to Him. 2 Corinthians 6:2b Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.[3]
Saul Meets Jesus
As Saul traveled to Damascus, he believed he was doing God’s will by persecuting believers. Acts 9: Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there.[4]
But he discovered he was wrong. In God’s infinite mercy, Jesus intervened and changed his life. Acts 9:3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting![5] Suddenly, Saul was confronted with the fact that his beliefs were wrong. As Saul got off the ground, he discovered he was blind, symbolizing his spiritual blindness.
Saul Believed in Jesus as the Messiah
Jesus told blind Saul to continue to Damascus for the next step. As Saul sat in blindness, God gave a vision to a believer named Ananias, telling him to go to Paul in Damascus and pray over him. Acts 9:17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[6]
Saul’s sight returned as he placed his faith in Jesus as Messiah. Everything in his life would change because he was in a relationship with Jesus. In the same way, when we put our faith in Jesus, God begins to transform our lives, and we become a different person. To learn how it is not religion but relationship that matters, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-arrests-saul
[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/194341-if-the-ladder-is-not-leaning-against-the-right-wall
[2-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.