Improbable Incident
I can’t always explain away events that happen in my life. I do trust the Lord that He is in control and He always has an explanation even though I often wish He would share it with me. I have to accept on faith that He ALWAYS knows what He’s doing. I trust Him.
Paul is always ready and willing to talk about his personal faith journey which is pretty unusal. He was so zealous for Judaism that he became crusader who tried to destroy the gospel message through all sorts of activities. For example, he was there holding the coats of the people who stoned Stephen to death. Everything changed when Paul met the Lord in a personal vision on the road to Damascus. That event changed the entire course of Paul’s life. Check this out….
21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:21-24 NLT)
It’s improbable that the man who first tried to destroy their faith, now became a teacher of that faith. His conversion was dramatic. His conversion was thorough. Paul was never the same after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus.
I started thinking of my “road to Damascus moment” as I read this. I remember a time in my life when my faith became my own and I felt called into ministry. I felt the Lord’s presence so powerfully. I was a freshman in college at Johnson Bible College (now Johnson University Tennessee) and I was watching a version of the passion play performed by the Junior class for the Junior-Senior Banquet (very much like the prom without dancing). I remember the crucifixion scene totally wrecking me. I came to face to face with just how loved I was by God. I realized the depths He would go to get to me. He pursued me. That night, I made a decision to follow the Lord wherever He would lead me. That night occurred nearly 37 years ago this spring. I can’t fully explain it, but that was my “road to Damascus moment”. I wasn’t looking for Him. The Lord doesn’t do accidental meetings. He operates by appointment only. What appears to be an improbable incident in the life of Paul was totally in God’s plan. He wants to live and work in anyone who is willing to listen to His call upon their life. I’m thankful that I was listening. I still do my best to listen to Him speak each day. I’m available for whatever “improbable incident” that might happen even today!
Pressing On!
Dwayne