In Acts 9:9 - 19 we see Saul being led to Damascus because he cannot see. His eyes so focused on killing believers, now blinded by the light of the Lord. The light shone through the darkness of his heart and physically blinded him, so he could be healed of his darkness and see life in a whole new way. Not only was he blinded, but God was paving the way for him to see as never before and God was going to use a believer by the name of Ananias. In verse 10-17 records the conversation between God and Ananias. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 harm he did to Your [b]saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” God using Ananias was a great thing in the process of this whole life change for Saul. You will notice Ananias thought he was reminding the Lord of the attitude and mission of Saul at the time. Ananias knew Saul's reputation and he realized his life could be in danger by just going near him. He knew Saul could take his life for following Jesus and yet he trusted God and followed through with faith. Keep in mind, God SPOKE to him in a vision. In today's trust factor we might say, "I wonder if that vision was from God or not?" Ananias was faithful and God used him in an incredible way to bring the message to the Gentiles and anyone else who might listen. The next moves Ananias makes are pivotal. The very one who blinded Saul's eyes opened up the eyes of Ananias to see that Saul needed to be commissioned and that the impact would change the world. This brings to mind the thought of the instrument of God and the one who is bringing that instrument to life. Ananias was very important to God's plan and his trust in God brought about a great meeting between him and Saul, the murderer of Christians. In verse 17 it says, "So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Saul felt and realized the miracle of sight had been given back to him, but sight to see the world in a whole new way, through the power of the Holy Spirit!!!
What would happened if each of us who know Jesus would listen to God to the point of trusting Him to do extraordinary things through our lives. Some of us would be like Ananias and some would be like Saul. God's light would be what would show us our direction in life and then our journey would begin. Saul's day was changed forever when he saw the light. Ananias' life was changed forever when he saw the vision of God. The world and the ministry of Christ took a dramatic step forward when both were impacted by what they saw. One a blinding light and one a vision with direction. What is holding us back? Could it be darkness? Darkness will make a lost person miss Jesus. Darkness will make a saved person miss God's vision. It seems impossible for believers to miss the visions of God and John 8:12 confirms where those visions come from and the light it shines on life's situations. John 8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Is Jesus speaking metaphorically? I don't think I can make that determination. I think I am to believe it literally or I might be accused of trying to "explain away" God's word and that would be dangerous. The light of the world IS Jesus and that light was in the beginning in Genesis 1:3 when God said "Let there be light!" And in verse 4 when God says, "Let there be light; and there was light." To me that is plain English for us all to understand. Understand what you may say? That God's light stops us in our tracks and points us toward Jesus. That God's vision compels us to spread the Gospel wherever we go. That God's focus on redeeming mankind is a truth that is burned in the eyes of all who follow Jesus. We cannot escape it and the only time we find peace with God is when we are doing that very thing. Sharing Jesus. The church of America will die on the vine if it continues to ignore the vision that God also gave to Ananias. It will continue to lose it's way if it doesn't allow the light of Jesus to blind it to the ways of the world and open it's eyes to the harvest. Jesus, looking down through history speaks truth to our generation as he did in Matthew 9:37 where he says, "The harvest is plentiful, bu the workers are few." Has God blinded your eyes to your own path? Maybe it is time for your Damascus road experience, so you can open your eyes to the direction God wants you to take in your life. Close your eyes to the world and open your eyes refocused on the direction of God. Perhaps God has given you a vision for what he can do through someone you know that has seen the harvest and is wanting tor respond to it. Maybe the step of faith God is asking you to take is a stretch, but you know it is right and must be done to commission a new direction in ministry. Can you have an Ananias type of faith that overcomes fears and doubt? Can you take the steps to the place God wants you to go to fulfill the longing in your heart? The impact of your faith will be much like the impact of Ananias because it compels you to unbridled obedience and God's peace is found right then and there.
Wherever you are, God is the one generating the change, so listen closely and be wise and faithful. He will take care of the rest.
The Pilgrimage continues....
David Warren
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