“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do...” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes...He got up and was baptized.
—Acts 9:5-6, 18
Have you ever known someone who makes you think, “That person could never be a Christian?” Perhaps you yourself have been that person. Maybe you’ve said or done things in your past you think are so terrible that God could never forgive and accept you.
Saul could relate to that. He called himself the “worst of sinners,” and he probably ranked high on ancient Christians’ lists. Acts tell us Saul regularly arrested, tortured and killed innocent Christians. As a highly trained Pharisee, he believed he was doing God’s work—that God applauded what he did. Saul was even present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. According to Acts 7, he stood in the background the entire time, doing nothing as witnesses laid their coats at his feet in tacit approval. Surely, Saul could never become a Christian.
Isn’t it amazing that the Bible says this is exactly what happened? In fact, Saul had a dramatic conversion. He became blind for three days, perhaps because God used physical blindness to highlight his spiritual condition. After those three days, though, the scales fell from Saul’s eyes—literally. God gave him a new name. From then on, Saul the persecutor became Paul. Paul went on to worship Christ more fervently and boldly than almost any other biblical figure. He also wrote several of our Bible’s books and ultimately died for Christ.
As difficult as it may be, don’t give up on the person you think could never embrace Christ. Pray for him or her, and continue offering a chance at faith. If you think you’re the one beyond God’s reach, don’t give up on yourself. Cry out to Him, and tell Him you want to believe. He will be there, and He will open your eyes.
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