Today in the Church Calendar we celebrate the conversion of the Apostle Paul

Today in the Church Calendar We Celebrate the Conversion of the Apostle Paul. Between AD 33 and AD 36 Saul of Tarsus a Zealous Jew, Pharisee, Roman Citizen, and Scholar participated in the attempt to wipe out Christianity in its very earliest stages. He was a witness and encourager of the killing of the first Martyr Stephen deacon of the Church in Jerusalem. He later experienced possibly the most famous conversions in the History of Christianity. Today we have in common language the expression a Damascus Road experience. Here in His own words he describes what happened to him in his Epistle to the Galatians. You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. The Bible in the Book of Acts written by Luke relates the story of his conversion. 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. There is possibly no-one else other than Jesus Christ who has influenced Christianity more. Many claim he was the architect of Christianity which is very debatable. However his writings written under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit have shaped the History of the World and it is these writings along with the other Apostles that under the guidance of the risen Christ have shaped Christianity. This amazing one time hater of Christ gave his all for His fame and for the Glory of God. The manner of his conversion speaks deeply to all men’s condition today. In our human pride we are deeply unaware of our blindness and nothing less than us being thrown from our high horse and seeing the risen Christ will be the beginning of not only regaining our sight, but will also be the beginning of realizing why we are alive our destiny is revealed. Perhaps now you could ask yourself where am I blind to my condition, where has my pride made me an enemy of God, where has my arrogance led me, where do I need to get off my high horse and realize that it is me who serves Him and not the other way round. References: 1, The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.1989 (Ga 1:13–17). 2, The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.1989 (Ac 9:1–19).