Funeral Message For A Believer

Larry loved the story of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. It was his favorite story in the Bible. And no wonder he liked it so much. This is the probably the world’s most famous conversion story. The story is so potent that Luke shares it three times in Acts: Acts 19:1-19; 22:1-16; 26:9-18. Conversion is a dramatic before and after picture. And there is no more dramatic conversion story anywhere than Paul’s. I can remember how the story enthralled me as a child hearing it for the first time.

Today’s Scripture

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he 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. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “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.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.” (Acts 9:1–19)

Paul’s conversion was History Changing like if the front page of every newspaper of 1944 read “Hitler Converts to Judaism.” Or if Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi turned Republican or President Trump decided to defend Nancy’s beliefs. You get it. This was a dramatic conversion. And it shows why Larry liked this story so much. In fact, it was nothing unusual for Larry to cry when he heard this passage or a sermon on Saul’s conversion.

1. An Unlikely Man

Maybe the best way to introduce you to the “before” picture of Saul is to see what others said about him. Eavesdrop in on Ananias’ prayer and you’ll learn a lot about Saul: “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (Acts 9:13-14) Those are the words of a man who would reluctantly obey but first wonders, “God, do you know what you’re doing?”

Remember, Saul had approved of Stephen’s stoning & had even held the outer garments for those who stoned Stephen. So any of us can understand Ananias’ caution about Paul. Saul had an intense hatred for Christians: “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9–11)