“Open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
- Acts 26:18
For like the hundredth time in the last few chapters, Paul’s case is being heard once again! This time in the presence of the earthly king of Israel, Agrippa. Festus had Agrippa brought to hear Paul before Paul is sent off to Rome to appear before Caesar himself. He has had numerous times to defend himself and every time his defense circles back around to the Good News of Jesus Christ, in particular, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
One interesting side thought before moving along with our above verse. In Acts 25:23, Luke tells us how King Agrippa entered Caesarea, the city Paul was being held. There was essentially a parade, a ton of pomp and circumstance. He is the earthly king of the Jews, and Israel isn’t necessarily in the best of shape since Rome has been over it. Though he has very little authority, both politically and religiously, he comes in with great pomp. Jesus though, when he entered Jerusalem came riding on a donkey, a lowly animal no King would ever ride in on, despite Jesus having all the power and authority in the world! It’s a very minor detail to add about Agrippa but has a lot of meaning when contrasted with Christ. Some might even say it's eye-opening! 😉
Eye-opening:
As Paul makes his case before Agrippa and Festus once again, he shares his full testimony and purpose. He starts sharing how he was raised and became well known in the Pharisees. To a point, he was even dragging Christians to the courts and forcing their blaspheming. He held little back about the violent acts he previously did under the authority of the high priest. However, he also shares his conversion, on the road to Damascus and how Jesus appeared to him and gave him a new purpose. No longer would he persecute Christ, but he would be Christ’s chosen messenger to the Gentiles. It’s a startling transformation and his new purpose angers the Jews.
Go and open their eyes! Reveal to them Jesus! This is fairly ironic considering Paul was left blind by Jesus. But in the same way, Ananias opened Paul’s eyes as Jesus commanded him to do, so now Paul would go and open others’ eyes to Jesus.
Dark to Light:
When we evangelize it's important to remember we are giving people an opportunity to decide. They encounter a fork in the road, one is to continue as they were, and the other path to toward Christ. The first path is one of darkness, it's one of ignorance, it's one where you decide how you want to live and do what is right in your own eyes. The dark path leads one nowhere that’s good for them. Hence why we need our eyes opened, so we might catch a glimpse of the light and turn to follow.
The path that leads to Christ is the light. Choose to go toward the light! Look to it and strive for it! Keep both eyes open and focused! The Good News of Jesus to those on the path of light makes them enlightened. They recognize like Paul did his great need to Christ and found faith in everything Jesus promises and fulfills. It’s a realization that the Gospel is more than a call to open your eyes but a call to follow, trust, and obey. It’s a call to join the Kingdom of God and all of his work purposes.
Satan to God:
When we walk the dark path, we are may think we are in control of our own lives and destinies. Yet, in the grander scheme of things, Satan is in charge. Elsewhere, Paul calls Satan the “god” of this world. This earth is where he manipulates and controls what he can to keep as many of us out of God’s grip that he can. He does not do this by fighting God directly, God would overpower him, and he knows it. No, Satan opposes God by whispering sweet nothings and tempting us with perceived power and control, and independence. In the spiritual reality, we are just tugging away shackled to chains moving his faulty throne around the earth. His only power is manipulation and perversion.
The Gospel opens our eyes to the reality of God’s throne and kingdom and how He was won and fought for us. His power needs not to be offensive because nothing truly threatens Him. His power is perfect and unbending, never does it sway from His purposes to save us and secure us, nor does God need to showcase His full power. He already has created everything and has already raised His Son from the dead, thus conquering death. His power flows in every breathe we take as we walk in the Holy Spirit and center on His Son.
Forgiveness, Sanctification, and Faith:
We open our eyes to leave behind the darkness and the power of Satan over our lives. We open our eyes to turn toward the light and live securely in the power of God. We open our eyes for our sins to be forgiven, that we might experience transformation within our lives, and trust in Christ with no end to it.
The Gospel is meant to open our eyes to these realities. Both the dark and the light but that we might choose the light. Both the power of Satan and the power of God but that we might choose God. Both that we are sinners in need of repentance and that Christ offers us righteousness and that we might repent and believe.
Final Blessing:
Let us then open our eyes and keep them open. Paul’s purpose was to travel and share the Good News with others and he did so faithfully. Our purpose can be the same… To walk on beautiful feet that are made beautiful by the message they carry. A Gospel that opens the eyes of the blind so they may walk in the light and the power of God. Let us partake in the fruit and life that transforms.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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