- Acts 22:6 (NKJV) Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
Today’s verse is an excerpt from a conversation Paul is having with an angry mob that is ready to kill him. The issue had to do with the practice of the Jewish faith. Paul could have debated with the best of them. He had spent a lifetime of defending the Christian faith vs. Judaism and a dozen or more other religions and philosophies.
But what does he do? Instead of defending himself with carefully crafted arguments of defense (there is a time and place for this), he refers back to an experience he had many years before: His personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
We see this pattern throughout Paul’s life and ministry. Whenever Paul found himself with his back against the wall; when he was going through the tough times; it was not his great ability to debate and win arguments, it was his personal encounter with Jesus Christ that he fell back on.
We can learn from this great man. You may or may not have had a “Road-to-Damascus” experience, but if you are a Christian, somewhere along the way you came to a realization that indeed Jesus was yours and you were His. Nail that moment down, it is the centerpiece of your faith. No argument or adversity can win over that.
And dear friend, if you have not had your own personal encounter with Jesus Christ, then I encourage you: do not be confused or be distracted with the ceaseless debates and arguments about the Christian religion (both by its followers and distracters). Remember, the essence of the Christian faith is this one thing: having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and it all starts with a personal encounter. Why not ask Him into your life right now?
The ONE THING 