Issue 268
Based on Acts 9:1-19
Have you ever felt compelled to do something which on rational inspection seems rather risky? There are times in every person’s life when there is a conflict of interest between the mind and the heart. Some people, of course, are natural risk takers and relish the thought of pushing out beyond comfort zones into uncharted waters and places of adventure; some want to flirt with failure in an attempt to gain greater success, or seriously rock the boat to see if treasure falls out.
But there is another kind of challenge which is inherently dangerous; one which carries such high margins of danger that it may be too overwhelming to consider.
Such was the challenge of the road to Straight Street.
The most notorious murderer of Christians has arrived in Damascus; what he has done in Jerusalem he now proposes to do in Damascus and he has the paperwork authorising him to do it. His purpose is not to form an evangelistic encounter group to debate the meaning of life or the classical trilemmas of Christian thinking; he is in town to arrest and, torture anyone in his way who belongs to ‘the Way’.
One such member of ‘the Way’ is minding his own business when he has a vision. If his understanding is right he is being asked to go and visit a home belonging to a man named Judas (not the greatest of associations) and ask for the murderer from Jerusalem by name. A certain reluctance on his part is understandable. This is a journey that could possibly end badly – in fact it could end everything! He knowsthat this is a big risk, but the vision, if he has got it right, includes the information that this murderer is a changed man and is in fact the heir apparent to the title ‘Leading Messenger to the Rest of the World’.
This change has to be recent because Ananias knows that Saul’s journey from Jerusalem only started a few days ago. His task is to go and meet this Saul and pass on a Divine commission.
The road to Straight Street must have been a road of anxiety. The vision seemed clear enough but what if he had misinterpreted? The information was at best concerning, at worst terrifying. In the battle between fear and courage Ananias chose to obey what he had seen and take the risk.
The steps to Judas’ house on Straight Street were taken in faith, responding to a vision. God still gives us visions – not just in churches but in the marketplace; it may be a vision for the kind of company you want to grow or the kind of job you want to pursue; it might be for the kind of employer that you want to find or the dream you want to fulfil. Whatever the vision it will take heart-stopping steps of faith to follow it through and prove the truth of your original insight. Ananias discovered that his overcoming of all his fear brought him into a bigger story; he was instrumental in releasing a human force full of the Spirit into the world, who would transform his own group ‘The Way’ into an international movement.
Saul’s road to Straight Street was also full of vision – so blinding he could not see. In their own ways both men were reluctant visitors to this house, but this meeting was the start of something big. Maybe as you reflect on that something that you know you have to do and which contains built in risk, you will test the vision but then take the same heart-stopping steps of faith to follow what you must. I don’t know whether your job will be to change the world or change someone who can change the world; either way the challenge is to go straight ahead and obey the vision – eventually the scales will fall from your eyes.
Acts 9:1-19
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against
the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for
letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there
who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take
them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his
journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to
the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?” 5″Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6″Now get up
and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the
sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but
when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by
the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not
eat or drink anything.
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called
to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and
ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a
vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands
on him to restore his sight.” 13″Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands
on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you
on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may
see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately,
something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He
got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained
his strength.
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Geoff Shattock
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