This is Christopher Hitchens. He is an outspoken opponent of all forms of religion. He is not content to simply call himself an ‘atheist’ but wants to get the term ‘anti-theist’ into circulation. He explains that you ‘could be an atheist and wish that belief in god were correct’, but an anti-theist ‘is someone who is relieved that there’s no evidence for such an assertion.’ His most famous book is entitled, ‘God is not great.’ Last June, Hitchens was diagnosed with cancer. He says that his smoking and heavy drinking made him a candidate for the disease and that he would be a very lucky person to live another five years. As far as I know he has asked that people would not pray for his recovery, for he would not like God to get the credit if the cancer was healed. He has also asked that people ignore any rumours that might be circulated that he turned to God during his illness.
God could display his glory by allowing Hitchens to carry on in his rebellion and then judge him for all his sin on the day of Judgement. God could also display his glory by intervening in Hitchens’s life and bringing him to repentance and faith. We can be sure God will do what is best. But before we write off the possibility of God converting Hitchens we should remember all the amazing testimonies of faith that there have been through the centuries, including that of Saul of Tarsus. Indeed, this morning, I want us to realise how amazing our own conversion was (or if you have not yet turned to Christ, how miraculous it would be if you would respond to his gracious invitation).
This was a typical conversion
When it comes to a passage like this—a narrative that focuses on a central character—preachers often ask, ‘what would this person look like if he was around today?’ That’s a complicated question in the case of Saul of Tarsus. Here was a man in favour with the religious establishment in a society where that religious establishment carried some influence. He actually believed that he was doing the right thing—he was sure that Jesus was dead and that this new movement of Christ-followers was a danger to his religion. But behind any outer respectability was a callous heart, as can be seen in the fact that he had stood by giving approval to Stephen’s death and now is breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.
Saul of Tarsus was blind to the truth of Jesus. His hatred of Christians revealed that he was
actually hostile towards God. He would
have been happy to say that he despised the person of Christ. So it is going to take a miracle to convert
him. However, the truth is it takes that
miracle to convert anyone. Under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit this man would latter write that the god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the gospel of the glory of Christ (2
Cor. 4:4); he would explain that the
sinful mind is hostile to God (Romans 8:7); and declared that before we
were converted we were dead in their transgressions
and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Of course
the blinding light, and heavenly voice, of these events on the
What hope do we have of seeing people come to faith when they are spiritually blind, hostile and dead? By ourselves we have as little chance of producing spiritual life as someone who goes into a graveyard and tells those who have been buried to get up and live. It takes an act of God to bring someone from the darkness into the light. If we want to see people ‘born again’ then we need to be depending on God. We need to pray for people; we need to ask God to take his life-giving message and open their eyes to see its truth; and we need to obey his instructions to be both a holy and loving community of redeemed people that he can use to display his presence. These are generally the means that God uses as he brings people to life.
Conversion brings a new attitude towards Christ’s people
Saul had gone to the high priest and asked for letters to the
synagogues in
Notice the connection between Jesus and his people. It wasn’t Jesus himself that Saul had been going about arresting and imprisoning. It’s was Jesus’ people. But Jesus asks, ‘why do you persecute me?’, and declares “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” To persecute them is to persecute him!
How is our love for Christ demonstrated in our love for his people? If we refuse to love his people then it is unlikely that we actually love Jesus. What does it say about our love for Christ if we refuse to forgive people who belong to him? What does it say about our love for Jesus if we are selective about whom we will be seen with? What does it say about our love for Jesus if we belittle his people because they don’t sing the songs we like or worship the way we do? Surely these words put to bed the myth that you can be a follower of Jesus but not desire to be a part of a fellowship of Christians!
Paul would go from being someone who hunted followers of the Way, to being someone who would call Christians his brothers and sisters, who wrestled in prayer for their spiritual well-being, who went out of his way not to be a burden to them, who gave of himself for their benefit, who shed tears over them, and who cried at times when he was being parted from them. Encountering Jesus, enables the spiritually dead people to live, the spiritually blind see, changes our attitude towards those who follow him, and finally, transforms our lives for good!
Conversion transforms our lives
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.” So marks the beginning of a new journey for Saul. He would live to face opposition, imprisonment, beatings and eventually execution but he would also experience a joy, peace and hope that would surpass them all. As one person has said, his life would now be infinitely harder, but infinitely richer.
I fear that many of us think that inviting Jesus into our lives will leave us on the same path, only now we will have a heavenly friend to walk our way; whereas actually we are put on a new road. Saul’s life was transformed by encountering Jesus! Do our lives show that we have been brought on to a different road? Do we set the agenda or does Jesus? Are we living to promote ourselves or seek his glory? Have our priorities and passions been changed? Do we let him tell us what is right and wrong and then respond in obedience? Are we following his command to love all our brothers and sisters in the Lord? If our lives are shaped the same way as they would be if we were not followers of Christ then we have some serious questions to ask ourselves.
My final thought is especially for those who are becoming aware that
Christ is trying to get your attention—although it is equally relevant for
those of us who are tempted to hold back in our walk with Jesus (which is all
of us). Imagine that we were to visit
Saul on the last day of his earthly life.
He is just hours away from execution.
You ask him about those events on the
Christ invites us on a path that is tougher, but infinitely
richer. He demands that he sets the
agenda. He commands us to give us sins
that we cherish. He orders us to stand
by him when the crowd is going in the other direction. Remember his words, deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me. But though the life he is calling us to may
be tough it is infinitely better. So
don’t cheat yourself out of the joy of a life lived for Christ!
Copyright note:
Unless
otherwise stated all Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.
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