Footsteps #7

We have been mulling over Saul’s reflections on his week-long journey to Damascus. Stephen had powerfully proclaimed the Messiah before the Sanhedrin. A crucified Messiah – what a horrible thought! A wretched man cursed of God on a cross, how does that give a person peace of mind? Thousands and thousands of converts in the very place where this man was tried, condemned, and crucified! Reports of his resurrection and appearances? The mental torment must have been endless, day upon day.

Under ordinary circumstances, he might have felt an interest in the towns and scenes through which he passed: Bethel, Shiloh, Mt Gerizim, Jacob’s tomb and well, the blue scenes of Lake Galilee – but even that reminded him of the Prophet of Nazareth whose followers he was trying to destroy. 
The journey was nearly over, Mt Hermon had long been gleaming before them as they crossed the bare, bleak, glaring, and undulating plain towards the village of Kaukab or “The Star.” It was high noon and in a Syrian noon, the sun shines fiercely overhead in an intolerable blaze of endless light. Then suddenly it was all ended!

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (who became Paul) was one of the most remarkable events in the history of the apostolic church. The importance of Paul, however, goes way beyond conversion itself, for Paul is certainly not the only enemy of the church to have become a genuine Christian. The issue, instead, relates to what he ended up doing for the sake of the gospel. Paul had been an incorrigible opponent to the early believers, and the harm he could have done to the infant church was enormous. He had both determination and official support to destroy the church. Yet, he responded faithfully to God’s call on the road to Damascus and became the greatest of the apostles. From among the most bitter and relentless persecutors of the church of Christ, arose the ablest defender and most successful herald of the gospel. With Saul’s conversion, Christianity changed forever.