Nearly 2000 years ago, a zealous man named Saul was on a mission – one that would alter history in ways he could never have foreseen or even imagine possible.
Saul was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish elite, fiercely devoted to his traditions and his God. He saw the growing movement of “The Way” as a grave threat — a dangerous cult spreading what he believed were lies about a crucified leader who claimed to be divine and who this unruly mob believed had risen from the dead. To Saul this was blasphemy of the highest order, and he vowed to crush it with everything he had.
Backed by the authority of the Jewish High Priest, Saul unleashed a campaign of terror against the followers of this movement.
He hunted them, imprisoned them, brutally tortured them and even executed them by stoning them to death. For Saul, this was not just a duty; he felt it was his God-ordained mission to protect his faith from the spreading poison of heresy. The death of their so-called leader on the cross at Calvary, followed by wild rumours of his resurrection, only fuelled the sordid speculation adding to Saul’s fury. He would stop at nothing to extinguish this “Light” and the hope it was inspiring across the land.
But the harder Saul tried to snuff it out, the brighter the Light shone. It was spreading like wildfire, illuminating the lives of those trapped in confusion, fear and despair.
And then one day, in an instant, everything changed.
Saul was riding his mount on the road to Damascus, armed with the authority to unleash more terror and persecution. Suddenly, a blinding flash of light from heaven knocked him from his horse, landing him with a sickening thud onto the rocky ground.
In that terrifying moment, Saul came face-to-face with the very presence of the risen Jesus Christ. The experience was so overwhelming, so utterly shattering and bewildering that Saul was struck blind from the terrifying encounter.
His soldiers had to lead the once powerful Pharisee into Damascus like a broken man.
For three days, Saul neither ate nor drank. In the confusing darkness of his blindness, he wrestled with the weight of what he had experienced. His powerful world, once so black-and-white, had been turned upside down. And now he was gripped with fear, unable to escape the terrifying darkness and despair that seemed to have encircled him. Then, a man named Ananias, a follower of the very “Light” Saul had sought to extinguish, approached him. At great personal risk, Ananias laid hands on Saul and prayed for him.
And then it happened.
Something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and his sight was immediately restored. Imagine the unbelievable elation, the sheer joy of being able to see again. But it was only just the beginning. Saul, the zealous persecutor and murderer, became Paul, the mighty man and redeemed apostle. The man who once sought to destroy the followers of Christ became the greatest messenger of His love, spreading the gospel to the farthest reaches of the known world.
Paul’s encounter with The Light changed, not only his life but also, the course of history. His writings form much of the New Testament Bible, and his testimony stands as a beacon of hope for all of humanity.
This Light is not just about a riveting story from the past — it is eternal as it’s unyielding, and radiantly present this very moment in our chaotic world. It continues to pierce even the deepest darkness, illuminating hearts trapped in despair, deception and doubt. This is the Light of Jesus Christ, the risen Saviour. And no matter how fiercely the darkness tries to extinguish it and disparage it, the Light shines all the more brighter like a beacon of hope for the lost and longing souls.
The Light of Christ burns brighter than a trillion suns, breaking through the cracks of unbelief and illuminating the path to love, hope, and eternal life. It is the Light that transforms, redeems and empowers.
This is the Light that shone on the road to Damascus. It is the Light that shattered Saul’s blindness and transformed him into Paul, the Apostle of Grace. And it is the Light that shines brightly, reaching out to humanity in every corner of the globe.
For those who step into the radiance of His eternal Light, will live forever transformed in His Kingdom of Light.
Because, no matter who you are, where you live or what you’ve done, the simple truth of this eternal light is this — you were born to shine like the Son!
n COLIN DEOKI lives in Melbourne, Australia and is a regular contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed in this article are his and not necessarily of this newspaper.
The author says Christians are born to shine. Picture: patch.com
