BLIND SIGHTED
Acts 9:8,9 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Is this world blinding our view of God? How many would be Christian if the price of salvation was sight? Unbeknownst to many, one side effect of salvation is altered sight!
Saul’s three day blindness must have seemed an eternity. Perhaps he went without food and drink out of depression; maybe out of anger. Must assuredly it was a time of prayer and reflection. The scripture is mute on anger or depression, but vocal about the prayer of Saul. Saul had been a devout Jew, a Pharisee and ardent student of the Word of God. His had been a divine mission of slaughter. Maybe slaughter is too strong a word, rather it was a cleansing, a pogrom of purification. (Hitler and Stalin used these same innocuous definitions for slaughter with ease and aplomb.) Have you spent any time secluded and without distraction? How long does it take to reflect on your life and the choices you’ve made? How long do you suppose it took Saul before he began to rummage through the recesses of his mind and examine his vast knowledge of God’s Word? Can you imagine this new believer that already had an intimate and thorough knowledge of scripture stored in his head? Is it any wonder Saul didn’t eat and drink? He had three days to examine and learn through the Holy Spirit the hidden treasures of God’s Word. These were three days of revelation and spiritual sight. It must have been three days of unparalleled rapture! Every story and account of scripture took on new meaning and substance. It wasn’t as if someone had shined a light on the Word, but as though the Word came burning out of his mind to fill the void before his blinded eyes. It must have been like the scene in the “Ten Commandments” as God spoke the commandment a flaming burst of energy would fly across the screen to burn the words into a stone tablet. Every passage Saul brought to mind found new and amazing truths and opened his understanding to receive even greater revelation. Saul was indeed not suffering in his blindness; he was reveling in God’s blessings and perfect plan for his life. Saul was becoming the Paul we love and respect; the missionary to the world.
How about us? Would we be willing to lose our sight at the prospect of salvation? The transformation of Saul into Paul took time and effort on his part. Yet, he found the strength through the Holy Spirit and his faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. In the beginning he was blinded to the world but able to see the invisible things of God. When he regained physical sight the world did not look the same. How does the world look to us? Has there been a transformation of sight in our lives. The scales of pride, (Job 41:15), had fallen from Saul’s eyes at the touch of Gods messenger. As those scales fell from his eyes he saw the world for the first time as it should be seen. He saw no good in any man, no future in any good deed, and no escape from death’s dark grip. Yet, there was naught in any man to be feared, no fear in death’s rightful place, and all hope in God’s redemptive plan. There was a vast harvest before his eyes; the fruit was ripe and ready to be picked. Where had his eyes been looking before, how had he missed the lost and dying? The filter of lust and pride had been removed, the truth made known. It was the love of God which shone in eyes anew. They were eyes of God in the flesh of man. Is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart influencing our vision? Have we given our eyes along with the heart we pledged to God?
Being saved takes a twinkling of an eye or less. Growing in Christ takes more than a twinkle. With Saul’s background and tradition he came to a quick maturity. He began preaching and spreading the gospel of God almost immediately. God certainly had a plan for Saul; he also has a plan for us. It may take more than three days for us, but the method for us is the same as it was for Saul. (Acts 9:11 …behold, he prayeth,)
Would you be willing to be blinded to learn God’s plan for your life? Haven’t we already been blinded? Many are fond of the phrase “blinded by the light”, and rightly so. Christians should be blinded by the light of God and sighted to the world in a new and amazing way. Some have been blinded and remain with eyes shut to the world around us. It isn’t God’s plan for us to go blinded though this world, but to go openly, speedily, and heartily to preach the gospel. We must learn to open the eyes of God given to every born again believer and see the world in a different light; the light of righteousness, truth, and love of God. Every stain of sin in the world around us should invoke the love and peace of God in our hearts. Every instance of injustice should mandate a welcoming invitation to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Must the world suffer without reprieve and hope? Where have we been looking lately?
In three days Saul had surrendered all. He reveled in three days separated from the world; three days united in harmony with his God. Saul had been through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and was ready for the baptism of water to follow. Saul didn’t even eat till he’d been baptized. Are we as obedient to God? Saul came out of darkness, both spiritual and physical, walking the path of obedience, never to falter or waver.
When Christ plays back the path of our life, what will it reveal? Will it reveal obedience, disobedience, or even rebellion? It may not have been three days since the day of our salvation, but today and any day is a good day for complete surrender.
After all, Paul was just a man too.
And, his sight was never the same again.
How’s your sight?
