Today's Devotion

December 17, 2010

A Close Encounter

A movie came out several years ago out called, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In it a man sees a UFO which shines a light on his car accompanied with several other Hollywood-effects. After this encounter he is somehow compelled to go to Devils Tower state park where the army is entertaining the landing of the mother ship. Everyone gawks in amazement then the man fulfills his destiny by getting on the alien ship.

Today we read about a real close encounter and the results are much different than the Hollywood version for Saul encounters the Lord of the universe.

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It [is] hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought [him] into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (Acts 9:1-9 NKJV)

When a person comes to believe, his eyes are opened to his sinful, guilty condition. Encountering the Lord spiritually is a fearful thing. When we are stripped of all our self-righteousness and see clearly who we really are, then all that is left for us to do is to fall prostrate and beg for mercy. This is the humbleness brought on by regeneration.

That day on the road to Damascus Saul was forever changed. Here was a man full of anger and hatred, breathing threats of murder. What happened when he saw the light? He fell to the ground in fear only to arise blind after the encounter. This was not a man given to fear. He was a powerful up-and-coming leader who had the protection of guards who accompanied him. However, all that does not matter when the piercing purity of God's holiness exposes every wicked crevasse of your heart. When the Lord exposes to you your sinfulness, there is an awareness of the great power that accompanies such ability.

This encounter, while not the same for everyone, is consistent in its humbling nature. This is why I am so concerned for those who profess to know the Lord, but have no sense of God's holiness and their own sinfulness.

Believers no longer have to live in fear of condemnation, but the understanding of forgiveness is only realized and thought precious when viewed against the backdrop of guilt. Look at the follow passage.

“'There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?' Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the [one] whom he forgave more.' And He said to him, 'You have rightly judged.' Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped [them] with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, [which are] many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loves little."” (Luke 7:41-47 NKJV)

Have you been forgiven much? Reading the Scriptures is a way of encountering the Lord on a fresh basis. We need to be exposed to God's holiness more and more.

Also, preachers that only tickle the ears are not helping their listeners. Therefore, let's make sure we do all we can to expose sin by exposing God's holiness. If we do this, then I believe the Lord will someday say, "Well done good and faithful servant."