The Transformative Journey of Saul
The true role of a father is crucial in shaping who we are and who we’re supposed to become. One moment a man is living his life, and the next, he’s a dad with a new identity and responsibility to love, guide, and teach another human being. This powerful transformation mirrors what we witness in Saul’s story – a man given a new identity and a life-altering responsibility.
What Happens When Everything Falls Apart?
Last week, we left Saul of Tarsus at a major turning point. This man who was “breathing threats and murder” against followers of Jesus was stopped dead in his tracks and physically blinded by God’s glory. In that terrifying moment, Saul realized that Jesus, whom he was trying to destroy, was actually the Son of God.
Everything Saul had built his life around crumbled around him. For three long days, he sat in total darkness without food or water, wrestling with the rubble of his life. Broken, humbled, and completely alone, Saul had become a spiritual orphan – cut off from the God he thought he served and an enemy to the people around him.
Does God Leave Us in Our Brokenness?
This feeling of being orphaned – that loneliness and disconnection from our Heavenly Father – is something many of us have experienced. Living in this broken world without connection to God can leave us feeling adrift and abandoned.
But does our story have to end there? Does God bring us to our knees just to leave us in the wreckage?
Jesus made a powerful promise in John 14:18 that changes everything: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” While Saul sat alone in darkness, God’s plan was already unfolding through an ordinary disciple named Ananias.
What Happens When God’s Promise Becomes Reality?
In Acts 9, we witness Ananias courageously approaching Saul, placing his hands on him and saying, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The scripture tells us what happened next with one powerful word: “Immediately.” When God’s will is declared and His time has come, He doesn’t delay – He acts instantly. The scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again, perhaps more vibrantly than ever before.
This image should make us ask: What scales of pride, unforgiveness, doubt, or religious traditions are blinding me right now? What does God want to make fall away so I can see Him more clearly?
How Does True Transformation Look?
After Saul received his sight, the Bible tells us he immediately did three things:
- He arose – he got up
- He was baptized – making his transformation public
- He began preaching Christ in the synagogues
This sequence shows us that a true God encounter is much more than just a momentary feeling or a shiver during a worship song. It’s about getting up, getting washed clean, and immediately getting to work. When Jesus truly touches your life, it’s not about you anymore – it’s about a new beginning that you can’t keep to yourself.
Can God Really Change Someone So Completely?
The transformation in Saul was so dramatic that “all who heard were amazed.” They couldn’t believe this was the same man who had come to destroy followers of Christ. Their minds were blown because they couldn’t explain away what they were seeing.
Instead of backing down, “Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving” through his changed life that Jesus is the Son of God. Only Jesus can turn an enemy into family. Only Jesus can heal broken relationships, repair marriages, heal sickness, and break harmful habits.
Why Are You Waiting?
Ananias asked Saul a penetrating question that echoes to us today: “Why are you waiting?” Saul didn’t wait for permission or training before sharing his faith. When Jesus truly changes you from the inside out, you can’t help but talk about Him.
We get excited about meeting famous people, attending concerts, or special experiences – we take selfies, post pictures, and tell everyone about these encounters. Yet many of us remain silent about the most important relationship in our lives – our relationship with Jesus.
Life Application
This message brings conviction to each of us because there’s an area in our lives where God is asking, “What are you waiting for?” Whether you’re a brand-new Christian or you’ve been following Jesus for many years, God is looking for your “yes” today.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Have I truly allowed Jesus to transform me from the inside out?
- If I’ve experienced God’s grace, am I keeping quiet about it or sharing it with others?
- What step of obedience is God asking me to take right now?
- Is there something I’m waiting for before I fully commit to following Jesus?
Your challenge this week is simple but profound: Stop waiting and start acting. Maybe you need to be baptized to publicly declare your faith. Perhaps you need to share your testimony with a neighbor, coworker, or family member. Or maybe you simply need to say “yes” to Jesus for the first time.
Whatever God is calling you to do, remember Ananias’s question: “Why are you waiting?” The God who transformed Saul from a persecutor to a preacher can transform your life too – but He’s waiting for your response.