by Pastor Afolabi Oladele
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Psalm 102:25-27
Our text for today speaks to the temporariness of man and the permanence and absolute power of God over man and his end! God will see the end of any and all of man except those who have the life of Christ. Can the creature query his maker? Consider the man Saul.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 8:3-4
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 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. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. Acts 9:1-9
The journey from Jerusalem to Damascus in that time was two weeks, give or take a day; and for a man to be able to hold such aggression and unrelenting purpose to spoil the church over such a period says much for the depth of conviction of his cause! A first and important lesson is – misplaced and wrongly founded enthusiasm can fuel the pursuit of destructively fruitless purpose.
The only answer to such is this Acts 9 experience, a touch from the Lord in mercy and the appropriate response demonstrated here in this scripture. Confronted by the Lord on his ignorant pursuit – ‘it is hard to kick against the pricks.’ The only reasonable answer when the Lord tags you:
- is absolute and total surrender, asking Him;
- What would He have you do, not what you think you should be or want to be.
Dear friend, a second and equally important lesson is seek not to be like anyone, other than what God wants you to be!
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14 (NLT)
Psalm 139:14 (NLT) speaks to your uniqueness as defined by what He wrote concerning you in His book ever before you lived the day. Have you had your Acts 9 experience, knowing who He wants you be and what He wants you to do? If you have not, then ask Him and resolve it as we approach the end of the first half of this year. Do not let this year pass without you having a conviction of what He wants you to do as written in His book. Shalom.
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