A Year in Luke/ActsНамуна

As the risen Messiah literally knocked him off of his horse, Saul, who had thought he was the enlightened zealot who would purify the world of the Jesus followers, found himself blinded.

I can’t help but think of the story of the hymn Amazing Grace. The author, John Newton, had been the captain of a slave ship until he had his own conversion experience and became an abolitionist. He described being blind before the grace of God reached out to open his eyes:

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see”

There are so many since Saul who have found their eyes opened to Jesus and had their lives radically transformed.

It is important that we understand “conversion” or “repentance” not as changing religion, as if there are many different ones to choose from, but as having our eyes open to who Jesus truly is - the true King and Savior of the world.