04.018. The Heavenly Vision
The Heavenly Vision Whereupon … I was not disobedient unto the Heavenly Vision-- Acts 26:19. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus has a threefold detailed narration in the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 9:1-22; Acts 22:21; Acts 26:1-20. This repetition is designed for emphasis, and for the valuable lessons suggested. Let us select six:
A Vision. Every man has his Damascus. God reveals to him at some time, and in some way, truth which, if followed, brings new light. All depends on how the light is used. Even the heathen are not left without light, comp. Romans 1:18-32; Acts 14:17. How God deals with those who seek to follow light is shown in Acts 8:26-40; Acts 10:1-6.
A Decision. Two questions only were asked by Paul: “Who art Thou?” “What wilt Thou?” Henceforth immediate and implicit obedience at any cost. “Thy will be done.” Such a decision turns the crisis of history and destiny, and is the soul of faith and love.
A Mission. God sent him to serve and to witness. As to service, it was to open eyes, and turn feet into new paths. As to witness, it was to expand with new experience. Even yet through his fourteen epistles Paul is serving and witnessing.
The Power of Grace. Here is a moral miracle--an immediate transformation of conduct and character. The stress is upon immediateness: “Forthwith, straightway.” A radical revolution possible only to God.
A Pattern of Salvation, comp. 1 Timothy 1:14-16. It exemplifies two grand facts:
There is no limit to forgiveness when there is penitence and faith.
There is no limit to serviceableness when there is full surrender.
A Proof of Christ’s Resurrection. Gilbert West and Lord Lyttleton planned an assault on the fortress of our faith; but, in the studies of the New Testament necessary to discover the weak points, they came upon Saul’s conversion and concluded it was unaccountable except on the supposition of an actual vision of the Risen Redeemer, and both of them became defenders of the faith they had proposed to destroy.