Acts 09_01-09 On a Collision Course

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On a Collision Course
(Acts 9:1-9)
February 13, 2022
Read Acts 9:1-9 – Two soldiers in Moscow spotted a man walking alone late at night and ordered him to halt. The man ran, but one soldier shot him. The other asked, “Why did you shoot him?” He replied, “Curfew.” “But it’s not curfew yet.” The soldier replied, “I know. But I knew him. I know where he lives and he could never have made it in time.” That’s the zeal Saul had!
Yet, this greatest enemy of Jesus became the greatest missionary. But only after he repented his sin and believed in the Jesus whose memory he hoped to erase. He had to be converted. That term makes people nervous today. To ask someone to convert is to be narrow-minded. Must I be converted?” Jesus says, Yes! Mt 18:3: “Unless you turn (are converted) . . . you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Heaven itself is at stake. So, Saul has a dramatic conversion. Not everyone’s is so jarring. But his demonstrates some common elements of a saving encounter with the God who will not let go.
He was Conned
1) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” So, who is Saul. He was born in Tarsus, NE of Jerusalem at south of modern Turkey. It was famous for its university that ranked with Athens and Alexandria among the most honored in the Roman world. Saul’s father was a Roman citizen and Pharisee (Acts 23:6), thus Saul was both by birth. He was sent to Jerusalem to study under Gamaliel, the most respected rabbi of his day.
It’s not clear if he ever met Jesus, but he knew he was no Messiah. Deut 21:23b says, “a hanged man is cursed by God.” Jesus’ crucifixion was an unthinkable fate if He were really Messiah. And, Jesus had claimed to be God, but every Jew knew the shemaDeut 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Saul had heard how Jesus flaunted the law – healing on the Sabbath and allowing His disciples to harvest food and eat on the Sabbath. It never have occurred to Him that Jesus was not breaking the law, but only Pharisaic traditions – that God could be one in essence, yet three in person -- that Jesus was not cursed for His sake, but Saul’s. Any such thoughts were far from his mind as he tried to wipe out this heresy. He’d been conned.
So, he “went to the high priest 2) and asked him for letter to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Saul is on the warpath. The high priest had religious jurisdiction over Jews wherever they might be. Saul knows there’s a large Jewish population in Damascus, capital of Syria, 130 mi NE of Jerusalem. He’s going for the kill, and not gently! “Breathing threats and murder” – violent language. He admits it himself: Acts 22:4: “I persecuted this Way (Xns) to the death, binding and delivering to prison both me and women.” Acts 26:10c: “when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” And in 26:11b: “In raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Saul was a terror, fear by believers everywhere.
Why was he like this? Because, he believed he was right! He was convinced! He believed it and he was ready to die for it. He was sincere. But he was sincerely wrong. He’d been conned. And that is a very dangerous place to be.
We all like to think as long as someone is sincere, they’ll be okay. Saul’s conversion refutes that. Jn 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him (not believes in whatever, but whoever believes in Him) should not perish but have eternal life.” It’s not just believe – it’s believe in Him. That’s what leads to eternal life. The alternative is what? To perish. To be convinced of the wrong thing leads to destruction.
So, we might sincerely believe if we do my best, we’ll be okay. We might sincerely believe pantheism has it right. We might be convinced that no one can really know, so our best will be okay. We’d be like Saul – convinced, but condemned. Sincere – but sincerely wrong. The stakes are too high for that.
Death hit me at age 6. An electrician relative was up a pole one day when he grabbed a hot wire and was electrocuted. He sincerely believed the wire was dead – convinced. But he was sincerely wrong, and just as being sincerely wrong can lead to physical tragedy, so being sincerely wrong spiritually can lead to spiritual tragedy. Beloved, before you reject the deity and atonement of Christ, check it out. Make sure you’re not being conned without knowing it.
I. He was Confronted
So, Saul was convinced, sure he was doing the right thing. Little did he know he was on a collision course with the very One he thought dead and whose memory he sought to erase. It’s one of the most moving passages in Scripture.
Saul and team had nearly completed their 150 mile, 7-day journey when about noon (Acts 22:6) “suddenly a light from heave shone around him.” Brighter than the noonday sun (Acts 26:13), it knocked Saul to the ground (22:7). That’s bad enough, but then came the voice – understood by Saul, but not his friends (22:9). “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (4b). Imagine Paul’s thoughts. He knew exactly who he was persecuting, and now he found himself colliding with a supernatural objection. Got his attention in a hurry!
The question was terrorizing. Not, why are you persecuting those Christians? But “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus and His followers are one! That’s how locked in the relationship is. “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul thought he knew. Jesus was dead. He was just wiping out the rabble that claimed otherwise for God’s sake. Now he’s face-to-face with someone – clearly divine -- whom he later identifies as Jesus (Acts 9:17, 27; 22:14; 26:16; I Cor 9:1; 15:8) – and Jesus questions: “Why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 26:14 tells of a follow-on comment: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” A goad was a pointed stick used to poke an animal to direct him. A rebellious ox would kick against that goad, only to suffer the consequences. This metaphor tells us something about Saul’s state of mind. Even as he was breathing fire against the Xns, he had doubts. His conscience was accusing. Why? First, he knew about Jesus – knew the miracles, the powerful preaching, His unassailable answers. Saul knew. He knew Stephen’s amazing faith as he died with forgiveness in his heart. And Saul knew murder was wrong, tho he justified it as the penalty for blasphemy. But his conscience pained him – and now this! Now he’s being held divinely accountable.
His response is short and sweet – 5)Who are you, Lord?” Flat on his face, he is literally seeing the glory of God. And he’s not saying, “Who are you, Sir?” He’s saying, “Who are you, Lord?” And I think he already knows the answer! He’s just confirming his worst nightmare! He’s face-to-face with the risen Jesus! Without knowing it, he was on a collision course with Truth.
So Jesus answers – simply, but profoundly. I am Jesus”. “I am” – OT name for God in Exod 3:14: “I am who I am.” The term Jesus used when the Jews asked how he could possibly have seen Abe. Jn 8:58: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abe was, I am.” They knew He was claiming to be God and tried to stone Him. When the mob came to arrest Jesus, He asked in Jn 18:4b: Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Only He didn’t say, “I am He.” He actually said, “ειμι” – I am. Then Jn 19:6: “When Jesus said to them, ‘I am,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” He’s claiming to be God, then knocking them off their feet to prove it. Now he says to Saul, “I am.” We may not get the significance of that, but I guarantee you, Saul did. “I am”. You’re talking to Yahweh, Saul.
But He’s not done: “I am Jesus.” Jesus – His human name. In two words He has shown both his divine (I am) nature, and His human nature (Jesus). So profound! And then he adds: “Whom you are persecuting.” Saul’s heart must have melted. He’s now confronted with Jehovah, who is also Jesus – and he’s persecuting Him. Truth has just hit him right between the eyes.
Saul must have had a million questions. How can Jesus be both God and man? How can a God who is One also have a Son? Since Jesus died, how can He be alive now? He’s got more questions than answers – but he knows one thing. The answers are going to have to include a risen Christ, who is not to be messed with, let alone persecuted. Truth has at long last caught up with Saul.
So, has truth caught you? It’s not often a Damascus Road experience – but at some point, every life comes face-to-face with Truth and must decide, will I accept, or will I turn away? Kenneth Clark did the PBS series Civilization. In his biography he tells how once in France he had a divine encounter inside a church. He said, “My whole being radiated with a heavenly joy more intense than anything I had experienced before.” But he realized there would be a cost to pursuing this. He says, “I knew I would have to change. My family would think I was mad. Why would God do this for me? On moral terms, I was completely unworthy of such a flood of grace. So gradually the effect wore off, and I made no effort to retain it.” Now listen: “I had felt the finger of God, I am quite sure, but I was too deeply embedded in the world to change course.” He had his divine encounter; he turned it down. What about you? If you’ve never had one before, you are not here by accident. You are face-to-face with the Jesus who died for you, yet lives again. What will you do with Him? “Who are you, Lord? I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
II. He was Crushed
Saul did not turn the Savior down, but he left a broken man. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.” He thought he’d enter Damascus in full command. Instead he entered blind and helpless – broken – crushed by the Truth. The raging persecutor was reduced to a shambles.
But that allows him to see what he didn’t see before -- that he needed a Savior. Collisions with truth point us to the ultimate Truth. Isa 66:2b: “But this is the one to whom I will look; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Psa 51:7:The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God has to break us down before He can build us up. But that is His specialty!
Denise Jackson was in despair when huz, Alan, walked out on her. She says, “I wish I could delete [hard times] like a computer file. But I’ve learned the hard chapters show God’s power in a way happy ones do not. Brokenness moved my story in a way peaceful times did not. It’s in difficulties that I become desperate to really know God.” This is why God breaks us, Beloved. Whether it’s illness, loss of a loved one, rebellious kids, backstabbing friends, financial setbacks – whatever, it’s God saying, “Turn to me. If you’ve never accepted Christ, do that. If you know Him, lean into Him like never before.”
III> He was Captivated
But rise and enter the city.” Saul did that, but in a later testimony, he tells us what he said just prior to this comment by Jesus. Acts 22:10:And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’” That was Saul’s his capitulation, his confession that Jesus was not only the Lord – but his Lord. What a moment that was! You know you’ve been truly saved when from your broken condition, recognizing you can do nothing to save yourself, you ask, “What shall I do, Lord?”
To repent is to turn from sin to God – to reverse direction 180 degrees. That’s what Saul has done. In a moment’s time he’s moved from, “My will be done” to “Thy will be done.” And that is a saving moment -- the moment when Self is dethroned and Jesus is placed on the throne. It is a moment of full surrender.
Conc – Let me close with this. Did you know that everyone will one day submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? It’s true. Phil 3:8b: “[Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Every tongue will one day confess that Jesus is Lord. But many will make that confession when it is too late – on their way to an eternity away from God bc they would not bow the knee now, in this life, today, while there is still time.
The issue is to do it now – to do it in this life – to confront the truth of His death and resurrection on your behalf while it counts. Rom 10:9Bc if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you’ve never encountered truth before, you have today. What will you do with it? Listen to this poem.
“I had walked life's path with an easy tread, / I have followed were comfort and pleasure led; / And then by chance in a quiet place -- / I met my Master face-to-face. // With station and rank and wealth for gold, / Much thought for body, but none for soul, / I had entered to win this lifespan race -- / When I met my Master face-to-face.
I met Him and knew Him, and blushed to see / That His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me; / And I faltered, and fell at His feet that day, / While my castles vanished and melted away. // Melted and vanished; and in their place / I saw not else but my Master's face; /And I cried aloud: "Oh, make me meet / To follow the marks of Thy wounded feet." // My thought is now for the souls of men; / I have lost my life to find it again, / Ever since alone in that holy place / My Master and I stood face-to-face.” Let’s pray.
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