Russ' Ramblings

Acts 9:17-18
The beverage company has made quite an advertizing campaign that is based on sudden realizations. With a thump on the forehead, the person states, “I could have had a V-8.” It is kind of amazing how sudden realizations can work. It is the day that you can’t button your pants and so you suddenly realize that you have gained weight. It is when a parent looks at one of the children and then notices that he or she has “outgrown” present clothing. These changes did not happen overnight. Time was involved. It is the realization that is sudden. One of my favorite moments in the Bible is in the story of the Prodigal Son. In Luke 15:17, Jesus states, “When he came to himself…” The Prodigal had be on a downward trek for some time, but the realization of his exacting condition, and what to do about it, was a sudden moment of awakening and clarity.
Each of us comes to realize some awakening moments in life. Maybe we have many of them throughout our lives. Such moments follow the times of personal struggle and internal reflection. What we do with those awakening moments is a key element to seeing the definable character of our lives and the direction our lives will take.
When Ananias came to Saul, there was a cloud of darkness over his life. That darkness was removed. With that removal, Saul had a new opportunity in his life. The choice of what to do with it was his and his alone. What other people, or even God wanted him to do had no power against his choice. Saul’s character was defined that day.
Saul chose well. He arose and was baptized that day. The moment of awakening in his life was not lost, but became the great turning point in who and what he was and is. Had he hesitated, he may never have become the apostle, Paul, and the teacher we admire to this day.
Do not let your moment of awakening be lost. Perhaps you are seeing an opportunity. If you need to grasp that opportunity, like Saul did that day, you need to know that you can.