Are You BLIND?

Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

Acts 9:8-9 

Saul had a lot going for him. After all, according to Philippians 3:5, he was:

• circumcised on the 8th day
• a true Israelite
• born of the tribe of Benjamin
•  A Hebrew of Hebrews
• A Pharisee

Saul was highly educated and learned at the feet of Gamaliel who was a teacher in great demand (and was expensive to be his student).  Saul's life was on the fast track to greatness!  In fact, Saul had be commissioned to destroy this new cult that worshiped this man, Jesus.  He conducted a relentless search for these members of "The Way" much like the Inquisition.

Saul was BLIND!  Not physically, mind you, rather he was blind in his ambition to succeed and he was blind in his hatred of the followers of Christ.  Saul could not see beyond that.  He could not see how his blindness destroyed families and caused people to fear him, rather than respect him.  Saul was so blind that nothing else mattered.  

Enter Jesus on the road to Damascus as Saul was on his way to destroy more followers of Christ. It was on that road that Jesus took Saul's blind hatred and blind ambition and made him physically blind instead.  When Saul opened his eyes, he could not see.  Jesus took all of Saul's spiritual blindness and rendered him helpless.  I learned that sometimes God will allow us to be put in a place where we HAVE to rely on Him, and this is what happened to Saul.  He had to be led because he could not see.  He was helpless and didn't eat or drink for three days!  Imagine suddenly being rendered helpless, where all you have is time to think.  Oh, Saul probably recited the Scriptures he had learned, perhaps offered prayers, maybe he even re-evaluated his life choices.  The fact of the matter is this: Jesus got Saul's attention!

Saul was BLIND in more ways than one.  How about you?  Are you blind as well?