The Right Road

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”  Acts 9:3

As “godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him”(Acts 8:2), a young man named Saul smirked with satisfaction and determination.  One down.  Many to go.  In self-righteous rage, he “began to destroy the church.  Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison”(Acts 8:3).  Though “all except the apostles were scattered” throughout the region(Acts 8:1), Saul “was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples(Acts 9:1) and decided to chase down believers who had fled for their lives.  Armed with permission letters from the high priest, he headed to Damascus “so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem(Acts 9:2).

God let him almost get there.  Saul had traveled nearly 135 miles before his journey was interrupted right outside the city limits.  Though the noontime sun was shining brightly, a flash of heavenly light knocked him to the ground, and Saul heard the one voice he thought would never speak again. 

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” 

“I am Jesus.”

Jesus.  Saul had been sure the resurrection wasn’t true, but dead men don’t talk.  Jesus.  Saul had been “convinced that he ought to do all that was possible to oppose this name”(Acts 26:9), but now Jesus was calling his.  Jesus.  The One Stephen had seen “standing at the right hand of God”(Acts 7:56) was standing right before him.  And Saul knew he would never be the same.

Our journey in life might be different, but somewhere along the broken road, if you are truly His, God stopped you in your tracks to get you on the right track.  It might not have taken a blinding light to open your eyes, but it took costly grace to open your heart.

Remember your Damascus road today and be thankful.