Open Your Eyes
Driving back from Shaver Lake one afternoon in the California Central Valley, I decided to joke around with my wife about falling asleep. I closed the eye closest to her and kept the other open. We were driving down a steep and curvy mountain road with 200 foot cliffs on the side. I pretended to nod off to sleep and drove across the yellow lines. Helen reached over and grabbed my arm to wake me up and I looked at her with one eye open. She didn’t laugh until later when she felt safe. Interestingly, about a month later, we were driving the same road home and I began to “nod” off. Helen, clearly not amused, smacked my arm and said, “Stop fooling around!” I jerked the car back into the right lane and panicked a bit- I had actually been asleep- FOR REAL! It scared both of us, and on the spot I decided to not goof around any more while driving mountain roads. Impressed with my brilliant repentance, Helen too was glad- What did I learn from that? At times, even when you open your eyes, you cannot see. Three lessons can be learned from Acts 9 about how to really- Open Your Eyes.
1. By Seeking- Acts 9:1-6
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Saul thought was seeking to please God, but his eyes were closed to the truth. Jesus literally had to knock him down to get him to listen. Unfortunately, many of us are seeking evil rather than God. Like Saul, we go out of our way to live our lives thinking we know what we are doing and where we are going, but in the end we are seeking evil. How much of your life have you wasted not following God? What will it take to get you to really listen? Twenty one years ago I lost a child because of my sin. Harsh- maybe, but that’s what it took. I finally started listening and became a true Christian not long after that. Whether intentionally opposing God or not- unless we follow the Lord Jesus Christ- our eyes are closed and we will be lost. 1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Think about it- how eager is God to find us? Look what he did for Saul! Flashing lights, knocked off his feet, a voice from heaven- what will it take for you? Jeremiah 29 promises we will find Him, if we seek him with all our hearts!
2. By Humility and Faith- Acts 9:7-16
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Even with eyes opened, he could see nothing! Imagine what he must have felt. He had to be led by the hand- he was helpless. God humbled him. Have you humbled yourself before God? James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Saul (later know as Paul) fasted & prayed for answers. He was broken, but still could not see, his eyes were still closed to the whole truth. Powerfully, God was working behind the scenes to take care of Saul- the heart and faith of another man was needed so God called Ananias. Unfortunately, he was terrified because Saul had been putting disciples in prison and he was killing them. Often our doubts and fears (as Christians) are overwhelming and so we avoid the very will of God. Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good new to all creation.” It is uncomfortable and even painful- but so was the cross! Helen, the kids and I went out Saturday and knocked on doors across the street from the restaurant where we were to have our Amigo Day- it was awesome, we had a blast! Jennifer and Esteban were at church for the first time Sunday because God worked through faith and helped us overcome our fear.
Although he was terrified too- he overcame his fear and went. Will you go? We must have our eyes opened so we can go and find those seeking God. In every ministry in the church I pray that every member can be in a Bible study with someone so they can preach the word and learn to lay down their lives for others. Interestingly, suffering was part of the plan for Saul. It is the plan for us as well- that is why Jesus says we have to DENY ourselves. It takes self-denial to love others. Friday, Helen and I drove to L.A. to a memorial service for a friend. He had an awesome wife and three beautiful kids. He died last Thursday night while playing basketball and there is no conclusion as to why or how he died. It was his time! Are you ready? Are you’re friends and family ready? Are those in our lives and neighbors ready? Death is certain, so we must give everything we’ve got to seek and save the lost. Are your eyes really opened like Ananias? Are you willing to be put in harms way and give what you have to others?
3. By Eagerness- Acts 9:17-22
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Ananias could have stalled for weeks- but he was eager! He went- right away. Secondly, Saul was eager to see. Not just his eyesight- Saul was fasting and praying for God’s will. Once he heard the message, he obeyed! Its one thing to hear the message and it’s quite another to obey it? What did Saul have to do? He had to hear the message from Ananias, then trust the words of God and eagerly go. Ananias was sent “so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit”- Immediately- the scales fell off and Saul got up, on the spot, and was baptized! What are you waiting for? You may be Ananias, you may be Saulà but are you eager to obey the word of God?
I believe with all my heart that DECISIONS DEFINE YOU. What will you decide to do today? It takes courage just like Saul and Ananias to get up and go. What about your children? Do you talk with them daily about the Word- pray with them- listen to them? At the funeral, it hit me how much I must make every effort to give my kids the foundation they need whether I’m here or not. Eagerly go after your family, friends, the neighbors around you and preach the Word. You may be their only hope.
Do you see how God wants your eyes opened today? Let us seek God, humbly have eyes opened and by faith be eager and see what God’s incredible will is for us today!
He stoops down to make us great,
Matt Sullivan
