When You See the Light
Today’s Verse:
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. ~Acts 9:6
Have you ever been in a dark cavern or room where all you saw was pitch blackness? If you have, you know how eerie a feeling that is. You feel lost, blinded, unsure, and at a standstill. However, once you are able to see light again, you must act decisively. Saul (later, Paul) was knocked off his horse and saw a light that blinded him. In spite of this blindness, we must remember that he saw a light which was from heaven. This morning, let us consider what we must do when we see the light.
There must be abasement.
“And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Prior to the light, we are told that Saul breathed out threatenings against all Christians. He was on a mission to the synagogues in Damascus to arrest every Christian he could find. Then, the light from Heaven shined at him. Saul had to be brought to a standstill and humbled. His falling to the earth was involuntary. The brightness and power behind this light from Heaven indicated to him that he was not in control of his situation. When God shines His light at us, it is to show us that He is in control, and not us. God shines His light at and on us sometimes to force us into humility.
There must be awareness.
First, we must be listening. Saul heard a voice from Heaven, calling out his name. God always sends us His message with the light. Second, we must ask the right questions. Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” The light shining on you is to make you acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Then, he asked, “What wilt thou have me to do?” God shines His light on us so that we are clear on our priorities for our life. The light from God points us at a path and purpose.
There must be action.
“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” When God shines His light, we must go. We must go personally. Saul was to go by himself to the city of Damascus for his next instructions. God did not send someone else: only Saul. We must go promptly. There was not to be a moment’s delay. We must go prayerfully. Saul spent the time that he was in Damascus in prayer. If God calls a man to preach, he must go. If God calls a man to the mission field, he must go. Whatever God calls us to do, there must be action!
There must be accomplishment.
God did not just shine the light at Saul to put him at a standstill. It was for a higher purpose. “For he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Paul could trace the day that his life’s purpose and priority changed when he saw the light. He would be God’s vessel to take the gospel to Gentiles and men of authority. The advancement of the gospel has its roots in Paul starting churches and preaching the gospel in key cities of his day. The light guided him towards the goal of accomplishment.
We must be looking for God to shine His light on us every day as we read His Word or sit under preaching. As with Paul, “arise, and go” when you see the light!
Have an obedient God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Joshua 5-8