And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:21,22 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Start Over
A friend, serving in Panama in the Army, fell asleep on guard duty. Our nation was not at war, but my friend was busted his rank of Sergeant down to Private, and lost all hard earned privileges and positions. His sleepiness earned him a black mark on his record that he never overcame.
He soon left the army.
We do not usually get to start over.
But Jesus is the King of starting over.
Saul was a killer of Christians. He made havoc in the church, and people remembered. Later, after Saul’s conversion, when he became an evangelist, those people objected.
Christ is different than us. We humans do not often give opportunities for a fresh start. At best, the fresh starts we offer come with strings attached. “I’ll give you another chance, but you’d better not mess up again!!!” Or “I’ll give you another chance, but I’ll be watching you!”
Jesus, on the other hand, unabashedly, outlandishly, and shockingly lets people start over.
Maybe because He realizes how transforming the gospel is, and we sometimes forget.
Maybe because He realizes how necessary the gospel continues to be, and we sometimes forget.
Maybe because He realizes how refreshing starting over is, and we sometimes forget.
Fear not, then start over.