“HE SAW NOTHING!”

 Acts 9:3-9                             (ESV)

“[3] Now as he (Saul) went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a LIGHT FROM HEAVEN shone around him. [4] And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [5] And he said, “Who are you, LORD?” And HE said, “I AM JESUS, WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING. [6] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” [7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. [8] Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, “HE SAW NOTHING”. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9] And for THREE DAYS  he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

It seems that GOD continues to SPEAK to me from Acts 9.  It really captures my thoughts when I try to wrap my mind around the fact that JESUS actually CHOSE to use a tool that “the enemy” had in the midst of “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD” for HIS GLORY!  Yes, Saul was a Pharisee, one who was well studied in the Mosaic Law, but JESUS was preparing to OPEN his EYES to GRACE, something that he wasn’t accustomed to acknowledging.  

Although Saul had his mind set on destroying what the HOLY SPIRIT was doing, he had NO IDEA that his life was about to be TRANSFORMED by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, even to the point of dying!  He didn’t recognize JESUS when he was initially blinded by “the LIGHT” was causing him to fall to the ground, even though JESUS told him WHO HE was!  He had to WAIT FOR THE LORD for THREE DAYS until Ananias obeyed.  I find it interesting that Saul was unable to see until Ananias spoke “Brother Saul, the LORD JESUS WHO appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.”  

JESUS HAS A PLAN!  Saul (later renamed Paul) was about to be used as a great testimony, not only of WHO was in control of EVERYTHING, but eventually that HIS PLAN would be fulfilled!  JESUS says in Acts 9:16 “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name.”  JESUS “knew” what was ahead for Paul.  HE called Paul even though he had no idea what lie ahead of him during the remainder of his earthly life.  

Just because “HE SAW NOTHING” initially, Paul was still able to used by the HOLY SPIRIT to greatly GLORIFY JESUS!  JESUS uses we who die to SELF and allow HIS SPIRIT to “occupy” our bodies, not because we are better than others, but because HE HAS A PLAN!  We are BLESSED to be apart of HIS PLAN, even though at times we might not be able to SEE the entire playing field!  When Paul came to the point where “HE SAW NOTHING”, it was then that JESUS was able to use him FOR HIS GLORY!