Marvelous light!
Paul the
apostle had a startling encounter one day with the Light. In prison for
preaching the gospel, he recounts the amazing story to the king, hoping to
persuade him to see his need for Jesus.
On his
way to arrest Jewish Christians in Damascus for heresy, Paul reports, "At
midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the
sun, shining around me" (Acts 26:13). He falls to the ground, blinded, and
hears Jesus Himself speaking to him, charging him with the mission to preach
salvation to the Gentiles:
"...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,and from the power of Satan to God,that they may receive forgiveness of sins andan inheritance among those who aresanctified by faith in Me."~ Acts 26:18
Here's
that wonderful symbolism again--Paul, who thought he knew the light (righteous
in his own self-righteousness)--is plunged into blinding darkness that he might
have his spiritual eyes opened to the Truth. He receives his sight back three
days later--a changed man, with God's Light in his heart, the revelation that
Jesus died to give him God's own righteousness.
How
fantastic that God seeks to reveal Himself to us personally, wanting so much
for us to 'see' His heart, His invitation, the complete deliverance from
darkness that He's provided through Jesus. I love these words in I Peter
2:9-10:
"But you are a chosen generation,a royal priesthood, a holy nation,His own special people,that you may proclaim the praises of Himwho called you out of darknessinto His marvelous light;who once were not a peoplebut are now a people of God,who had not obtained mercybut now have obtained mercy."
Marvelous
light. What an invitation!
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