Darkness Descended.

And darkness descended upon Paul.

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Blinded.  Told he would be giving light to those in darkness, he, himself was thrust into darkness, his sight taken from him.

Moments before he was blinded, Paul (Saul) was on his way to Damascus. Just imagine what his thoughts had to be centered on. Imprisoning Christ followers. Hunting these blasphemous people down, seeking them out from every corner of Damascus. Taking these fools into custody and keeping them from spreading their awful lies about a supposedly risen Savior. The man was dead! They'd killed him! Didn’t these ignorant people realize that the would be Savior spoke bold, blasphemous lies? It was His duty to apprehend the criminals and put a stop to the craziness and he couldn’t wait to get to Damascus and get to work.

Have any of you ever been so sure of something only to find out you were completely wrong? You were positive that something was a certain way, but it wasn't not at all.  We see this sort of things in movies, in television shows,  it’s a standard plot line in suspense shows, and even in comedies. The reveal of how wrong someone was is often depicted as plot hook and the person goes on to either accept the new revelation- working through the hardship of that, or they go into denial and spend the rest of the movie being forced to accept the truth. There are so many scenarios, and isn't that where we like this sort of situations, on a television, or movie screen? We don’t like it in our real life at all. Finding out you were wrong about something you believe in can be devastating.  It's true too that finding out you were wrong about something that is awful to begin with, is a huge relief. Paul, however was not under the impression that hunting down Christ followers was awful. He believe in his heart, with all he was that what he was doing was God's blessed work. He believed he had God's full approval, that he was a God-fearing man.  He was totally wrong!  All he believed about the man they'd crucified was wrong!

And…after finding out he was wrong, he was blinded.

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

When his eyes were open…. He saw NO MAN. He had to be led by the hand all the way to Damascus.

Blind.  It's no coincidence that Jesus used these words--

Act 26:16  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 

Act 26:17  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 

Act 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

To OPEN THEIR EYES.     Paul was going to be sent to open the eyes of the Gentiles, and His own eyes had been blinded, he was in complete darkness.  Just as he was spiritually blinded, though he had physical sight, he was now physically blinding but spiritually he now had sight. Spiritual revelation, the truth had been revealed to him by the risen Jesus Himself!

For three days he was allowed this blindness. For three days his spiritual enlightenment was ignited. He had three days to think about nothing but his Christ given revelation.

He was chosen, of all people, he was chosen to turn the Gentiles from the power of Satan. Unless he did this, those people would not receive forgiveness for their sins, and they would not ultimately be with the holy, all through faith in Jesus Christ, Paul's Savior. Paul believed. Paul now believed. He had to review all that he knew of the Christ, all the things he believed were lies were really truths. To have to accept this - Paul was receiving a crash course in Salvation. Jesus hadn't blasphemed when He said He was God's Son. Every miracle that Paul had dismissed as brought to pass by Satan, had really been wrought by Jesus, using His Father's power. Every single person that believed…. Stephen… stoned Stephen, those words he spoke right before he was murdered were all true!

Yes, Paul's spiritual sight was never as vivid as it was when he was blinded. Three days of no eating and no drinking. Paul couldn’t concern himself with something so mundane as eating and drinking. The spiritual water and food he was feasting upon was all he needed.  Paul did not lay there in a coma for three days, Paul was conscious, Paul was thinking, Paul was being taught by the Holy Spirit. Paul was believing, and soon, so very soon Paul would be baptized. Paul will have repented of his sins, the greatest of which was persecuting Christ's followers, when the scales are removed from his physical eyes. He was ready to be baptized into the life of a Christ follower. He was going to be buried with Christ beneath the water and rise up into the new life of a Christ follower.

So amazing. Paul was given a mission, a life-long mission to preach Christ to the Gentiles. To bring Christ to people who otherwise would never have known Him.

May we, like Paul live for Christ in any way He reveals to us. May the Lord use us in His service now and always!

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!