Chaplain’s Corner

Lead to Christ – The Light

I remember staying at an AirBnB once, when I woke up in the middle of the night. Forgetting where I was, I got up and walked smack, straight into a wall! Nose to wall. Thomas Edison, your invention of the light bulb has saved many a broken nose! Thank you.

So, imagine for a moment … what it might be like ... If for all your life up until this moment, you have lived in a cupboard. Devoid of light. Just dark. But you didn’t know any better, right? Because it had always been that way. You get to the point where, ‘well this is just normal, everyone must live this way, no?’ Imagine then, one day you look down and you see a glimmer of light coming through under the door. You would be intrigued, yes? Curious. Should I open the door?

When you choose to open the door, life changes forever. What you didn’t know becomes known. What was in the dark has come into the light. Until now, you have only known living inside a cupboard, a small dark place. When the door opens wide, you realise there is so much more to life! As your eyes adjust and gain focus, you see a bedroom, further on you discover you are in a house, and beyond that, outside. You discover the outdoors, with seasons of summer and winter, autumn and spring, there are other people, there is music and food, and the list goes on! So much more to discover, right? Imagine you have never ever seen a sunset and then you see it for the first time.

In Acts 26 we read about Paul standing in front of King Agrippa. He shares his testimony, his life-transforming encounter with the light. Paul described it like this:

One day on my way to Damascus, armed as always with papers from the high priests authorising my action, right in the middle of the day a blaze of light, light outshining the sun, poured out of the sky on me and my companions. Oh, King, it was so bright! We fell flat on our faces. Then I heard a voice in Hebrew: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me? Why do you insist on going against the grain? “I said, ‘Who are you, Master?’ The voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I’ve hand-picked you to be a servant and witness to what’s happened today, and to what I am going to show you.’

God then said… 

‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present My offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in Me.’

Saul responded: “What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn’t just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change—this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life—right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world!”

Wow, right!? Can you imagine being Saul? Walking down a road towards Damascus, on your way to round up and jail Christians, persecute them. When suddenly, a bright light appears, seemingly from nowhere. Not only does light spontaneously appear, but from the light comes a voice – the voice of Jesus, speaking directly to you. Wow! 

Jesus wanted Saul to know, and He wants you to know, that He has made an offer to see your sins forgiven. He has made a place for you in His family. He invites everyone to begin real living, life in full colour, no longer just black and white, life in full surround sound and full light, simply beginning by believing in Him! 

You know, right there and then, Saul became a believer in Jesus Christ. He realised Jesus was the Son of God. He was the One who performed real miracles. And the greatest miracle of all? Dealing with sin forever, by dying on the cross and rising to life again three days later. He made a way for us to have eternal life with God in heaven forever and brings meaning and purpose to our now!

Saul’s response to this good news?  He decided he had no choice, he had to shout this good news from the roof tops.  He had to tell others all about the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ.

If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:13

The question we all face is, what is your response to this good news?

God bless,

Pastor Matt Daly

College Chaplain