Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

In the reading from Acts, we heard the account of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Paul is an interesting character and I can readily identify with him in some respects just as many others can. When I think about Paul it reminds me of a conversation many years ago with our pastor and a visiting pastor.

It was at a gathering in Christ Memorial's fellowship hall. I can't recall the reason for the event although it probably was related to the day school. Pastor Brunner and the visiting pastor were sitting next to each other and I was across the table from them. Our guest mentioned to Pastor Brunner that my demeanor was much like the current seminarians. It was a rather odd comment because it came out as though I wasn't a part of the conversation but just a spectator. Then the visitor looked across at me and asked whether I was interested in the seminary. My response was, "I don't think you want me in the seminary." To which he replied, "What about Paul? "

The conversation stuck in my mind but the meaning didn't really sink in at that time.

What about Paul?

Let's take a closer look at Paul for the answer to that question.

Paul's conversion was likely within five years of the death and resurrection of Jesus. A great persecution of the believers in Jerusalem was under way and many were fleeing the city. As we read Saul was a very angry person, almost like a rabid beast, in regards to the Way. He was so angry that it wasn't good enough for the followers of Jesus to leave Jerusalem he thought they should be pursued and punished.

Saul's strong conviction on this point leads him to request letters of introduction from the high priest so he could arrest the followers that fled to Damascus. As we know Saul didn't just arrest people he was also an accessory to the demise of some followers. His most notorious undertaking was the approval of the stoning of Stephen in Jerusalem.

Perhaps his tenacity was in part due to his religious training under Gamaliel (g?m?'l??l) a respected leader in the Sanhedrin. However, Gamaliel (g?m?'l??l) was the one who advised the Sanhedrin against harming Peter and the disciples. At best, we can surmise that his anger and not his teacher drove Saul's zealous behavior. Saul's anger was powerful enough to drive him to make a 140-mile trip to Damascus. A 10 day journey on foot not a trip that would be taken lightly in his time.

Then our Lord stepped in as Saul approached Damascus.

Literally a come to Jesus moment for Saul.

As God has done many times, He chooses the most unlikely candidate to fulfill His promise. The conversion of Paul is so miraculous Luke records it three times in the book of Acts. Two of the times were Paul recounting of the experience to others as he witnessed to them.

To put this in perspective Saul would be referred to as a religious extremist in our day, possibly even a terrorist. This is on par with Osama Bin Laden suddenly coming out of hiding and preaching the Gospel.

So what about Paul?

For me, when I was younger, I could identify with Saul being an angry person about what he perceives as right and wrong, fair and unfair. I can identify now with Paul in that I should give thanks for what God has done for me and in return work to His glory.

Am I perfect? No. Do I still make mistakes? Absolutely! However, Paul's conversion provides me with every confidence.

God took the fiercest human opponent to the Gospel and made him the light to the Gentiles. God could have just as easily removed Paul from existence. If God can make such a miraculous change in Paul and use him to further the kingdom, why would I or anyone ever have a doubt about salvation? We have a promise that we are already members of his kingdom through the death and resurrection of Jesus. All we are required to do is believe.

Out of that belief, the Spirit begins to move us to help the body of Christ grow and become healthy. Notice that Jesus asks Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" Jesus isn't referring to the human form He held on earth. He is speaking about the body of believers.

As Jesus shared in His parable to offer drink, food, clothes, and shelter to the less fortunate; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matt 25:40)

The healing of Saul's blindness and spirit further emphasizes this lesson. A zealot Saul was on a mission to arrest and persecute works to heal him. Ananias ministers to Paul, shares the good news and baptizes Paul. That interaction between Paul and Ananias is what our mission should be as individuals and as a congregation.

So what about Ananias?

Ananias was in a tough situation as well. Just as Saul interacts with the Lord on the road, Ananias has an interaction perhaps just as troubling for him as Saul's.

The Lord tells Ananias to go to Saul who he knows intended to harm him and others. It's obvious that Ananias wants no part in this assignment. As if the Lord doesn't know Saul, Ananias tries to back away with a quick little summation of Saul's mission. However, the Lord's response is a definitive Go! It's not optional it's a command.

As a congregation, we need to understand that the church's mission is unstoppable. The Lord has issued a definite command Go.

If the Risen Lord can reach down to save its chief opponent, Paul, why should we think he would do any less in this place?

You may not have noticed this but our reading from Revelation (5:1-14) gives us another reason to have confidence. If we accept Revelation as prophesy there is great encouragement in the ever growing numbers singing. At the beginning there are a just a few and it grows into a multitude of souls in heaven. The mission of the church is succeeding even if we don't see it firsthand. The other thing to think about is there are no evil doers in the vision. If God can ignore them and bring His people into heaven then we should have no fear of them either.

We focused on Paul this morning and how he was chosen, given a second chance. In the Gospel reading Peter is also given another chance. Three times he is asked by Jesus whether he loves Him. Peter denied Jesus three times the night of His arrest yet Jesus chooses and restores Peter to lead the church. So we make errors but we are restored by faith in Jesus and His sacrifice. In that restoration we carry the message forward. That is how the singing in heaven increases.

The mission can be scary and uncomfortable and we try to backpedal like Ananias. But the mission is also most rewarding. As impatient human beings, we are often discouraged when we don't see immediate results of our efforts. When we are discouraged, we can draw confidence from the miraculous change in Paul and the model of Ananias.

When Jesus says Go we can have absolute faith and confidence in the mission.

In the Name of our Risen Lord Jesus, Amen.