God Can Do Dramatic Changes in Us

A young man stands there with a smug, arrogant look on his face. There is actually delight in his demeanour as one of the followers of “The Way” (another name for the early Christian church) is stoned to death. This is what he is working for – to eliminate those in this new movement; a movement he doesn’t truly understand.

Young Saul hears the words of Stephen, whose last speech was a great oracle of faith. Stephen clearly speaks of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Yet Saul appears immune to all he hears.

Saul quickly gains a strong reputation for his tactics to round up and arrest those who believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour. His name creates fear in the early believers. The harm he does to the work of the early Church seems irreversible. Saul is on a mission to wipe out this new movement.

Acts 9 verse 1 speaks of Saul uttering “murderous threats” against the followers of Christ. He even approaches the Jewish leaders to gain permission and authority to imprison more of those who believe in Jesus as Saviour.

Saul is definitely a strong personality. He commands authority and is able to lead others. He is well educated and knows fully the teachings of the Old Testament.

It is interesting how God takes a man who is so vehemently opposed to Jesus and turns him right around to become one of the greatest missionaries of the Christian faith. Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus is a pivotal moment in the work of the early Church. This man of courage and strength now has a new direction and purpose.

With his new life comes a new name. As Paul he now seeks for ways to spread the Gospel rather than thwart it. After his encounter with the Lord, he spends time with the disciples in Damascus. Scripture then says this about him:

“At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All of those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 9:19-22 NIV)

Paul does not waste any time getting on with his new way of thinking and believing. As vehemently as he opposed the work of the early Church, he now takes that energy to give his all to preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

When we become discouraged or tired, the example of Saul turned Paul is one of hope for us. It shows how God can turn challenging people and situations right around. There is nothing impossible for Him.

Paul becomes the poster boy for the new faith. His witness is key as he describes how he was so strongly opposed to Jesus and then how God turned his heart and soul around. It gives us hope that God will work mighty things through us and within us.

On days when your heart is weary and you wonder if you can continue with all that you have on your plate, remember Paul and how God turned his energy for His good and how God can turn a bad circumstance into a great witness.

Paul’s life story brings us much hope. God can truly do wonders in our hearts and minds and give us a new, rewarding life in Him.

Like Paul, God can use us in remarkable ways to spread the good news of Christ. You might be thinking that you are not a gifted orator or strong leader. Yet, God will work through you wherever you are. Perhaps you are a quiet gentle soul. Your mission might be to offer comfort to those in your sphere on influence. Maybe you are musical and you can share God’s Word through song. You might be physically unable to do much, but you can still be a prayer warrior.

With the Lord, our lives are limitless.

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