Paul’s Extraordinary Conversion
Let's spend some time talking about the man who benefited so much from the encouragement of Barnabas – the one and only Paul.
Paul was a unique man. Unlike Peter, Paul was not a fumbling, self-doubting, low-down fisherman type who needed Jesus to lift him up. Paul was a self-assured, self-righteous, arrogant man of position and stature - who needed Jesus to humble him.
Where Peter needed, in a sense, to be lifted to an extraordinary life, Paul needed to be lowered to an extraordinary life!
For him it began with an extraordinary conversion story, which we read a number of times in Acts. Nazarene theologian Arnold Airhart writes this in his commentary: "In the field of Christian evidences the conversion of Saul of Tarsus ranks in importance next to the resurrection of Jesus."
What Does Conversion Really Mean?
Some people don't like that word 'conversion'. They think it's too cold and impersonal - 'converts' makes them think of bad old days when groups of Christians would go and force people to confess Jesus as Lord or kill them, and they think using the word speaks of a kind of arrogance in that sense.
I like the word. I use it a lot when it comes to digital files! Sometimes I have to convert a Word doc to a PDF, or an MP4 to an MP3, or something like that. When you do this, you change the file from one type to another. It still retains its basic character, but it is changed to a different format.
I think this is what happened to Paul! He was truly converted from the self-assured, arrogant man into a humble believer in Jesus.
Have you been converted? From one format to another? You used to be one way, but Jesus made you into somebody new?
Sometimes I think church people never really go through this. They just carry on living as they always did. But God wants to convert us - to humble us and turn us into Christlike people!
The Human Tiger Who Was Changed
An explorer was crossing Africa and came into the region of the Barotsi people. He heard stories about the native king Lewanika. This king was inhumanely cruel. It was his great delight to discover and use new means of torture on his enemies. He was known by the nickname "human tiger." The explorer came to a station where Pastor Coillard was in charge. On Sunday the explorer, as a matter of politeness, went to church and sat through the service. When he came out, he said, "Pastor, who was that striking man sitting next to me who listened so carefully?" The pastor replied, "That was King Lewanika, the 'human tiger.'" The explorer answered back, "Then if that is what Christ can do, I mean to be His."
I think the same thing happened with Paul's extraordinary conversion. He was a kind of human tiger! But when Jesus changed him, he was truly converted from one type of man to another.
Consider this carefully, friends. Have you been converted? Have you left an old life behind to follow Jesus?
Is He perhaps looking to humble you today, because you feel too self-assured in your own experience, your own standing, your own ability?
Jesus can do for you what He did for Paul - He can truly convert you from one type of person to another. Place your faith in Him, like Paul did, turn from a life without Him to a life focused on Him - and see how He changes you like He did Paul.
Paul's encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road converted him from a self-righteous persecutor into a humble follower of Christ. Have you truly been converted, or are you carrying on as you always have?