Can I Get a Witness?

Are you moving along, in the ordinariness of your life, pretty happy, doing okay financially and living a relatively good life?  Do you mostly try to do the right thing?  Are you thinking that you really don’t see any need to think about all of this God stuff because you don’t really see how it fits in anyway.  

Are you thinking, “That’s not for me.  I don’t really need it, I’m fine.  Besides, I don’t really know what to believe”?

Here’s what you might be missing, and it can be found in this amazing bible passage about the conversion of Saul.  Bear with me. Really. Just keep reading.

As I was reading this passage in Acts of the Apostle (Chapter 22:14ff), an amazing event is being recalled.  One day, Ananias, a devout Christian, heard God in a vision (Acts 9:10ff) tell him to “Get up and go” find Saul.  Now Saul had been busy “breathing murderous threats” against Christians and was known for dragging them in chains to the authorities to be imprisoned.  Pretty scary guy.

At first, Ananias responds “Here I am, Lord” and then he learns what his mission is.  Now Ananias is not dumb.  He realizes he is being sent into the lion’s den, so he would naturally have been leery of seeking out Saul.  Saul was a real force to be reckoned with.

Ananias was a devout “observer of the law” so when he heard his mission, he asked for a little clarification.  Basically, he said, “I’ve heard about this guy and he’s not so nice. You really want me to go looking for him, Lord?”

But when the Lord clarified for him that Saul was a “chosen instrument” to carry God’s name before “Gentiles, kings and Israelites,” Ananias didn’t hesitate.

In Acts 22, Paul (formerly Saul) recounts his encounter with Ananias for the Jews in Jerusalem.  We can take a lot from their exchange.

You see, on that road to Damascus, when Saul was going about his dirty work, about the same time Ananias was getting his vision, Saul was struck with a great light.  He heard a voice and literally fell to the ground.  He even lost his sight, which he regained after Ananias found him and layed his hands on him.

This was Saul’s conversion.  After all this, he recovered his sight, stopped persecuting Christians and became a great and powerful voice in the history of Christianity.

So what does that have to do with us?  Well, let’s look at the moving parts of this story.

First, Ananias faithfully responded to God’s call, and because he did, Saul’s life changed profoundly and God’s work continued.  God calls each of us, even today.  He IS calling YOU right now.  What amazing things might happen in your life, or those around you, if you respond?  You cannot know until you do it!

Second, remember, Saul was just going about his everyday business (bad as it was.)  He was surprised by his conversion.  Who would think that someone like Saul could become a great Christian and a sign of conversion for all ages?

Just imagine, God is calling YOU as well! And while you might not be struck down like Saul, good change is sure to come when you respond.

YOUR eyes will be opened, too.  The veil that has been covering them for so long will be lifted, and as you begin a renewed (or new) life of faith, you will see what you have been missing.  Have courage!

Ananias told Saul, “God designed you . . .you will be his witness . . . why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away.”

For us, we should ask, “What am I afraid of?”  There is so much to this Christian life for you yet to live.  Like Ananias told Saul, God designated YOU to be his witness, whatever that will look like.  

Christianity isn’t for the other guy, it is for YOU.  As we are told in scripture, “Get up and go!  Why delay?”

It is time.  Stop putting it off, so that like Marvin Gaye, when God asks, Can I Get a Witness? you will be ready to answer, “Here I am, Lord!”

Janet Cassidy

Janetcassidy.com