Amazing Love

Recently, I heard someone say, “No one anywhere under any circumstances is beyond the reach of the Gospel.” The Bible tells the stories of many people who appeared to be unreachable. One such man was named Saul. Several aspects of Saul’s life suggested he was a man who would never become a Christ-follower.

Saul’s family was wealthy. Wealth often presents a real barrier to the Gospel. People who have a lot of money and material possessions usually do not easily recognize how desperately we all need God.

Saul was highly educated. The Bible warns that knowledge without love tends to make people proud. Highly educated people are subject to the allure of elitist thinking that makes ideas like faith and grace and mercy and submission and servanthood seem simple-minded and archaic.

Saul was also extremely religious. The problem with religion is that it is man-centered and works-oriented. Religious people tend to believe they are good enough to get to heaven. Biblical Christianity is God-centered and grace-oriented. The Bible says that no one is good at all, to say nothing of being good enough for God. That’s why we need grace. That’s why we need Jesus.

Saul was Public Enemy #1 to the early church. He hated Christ-followers with a scary zeal. He was angry, ruthless, and cruel in his fanatical attacks against the early church.

On the way to capture more Christ-followers, Saul was knocked off his high horse by a personal encounter with none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus revealed Himself to Saul. He showed Saul that his fervent religious attacks were actually personal attacks against Jesus Himself. Rather than serving God as he thought, Saul was fighting against God.

Saul came to know what he had done and what he deserved. If anyone ever deserved to be snuffed out under the Divine Thumb, it was Saul. However, far from wrath and death, Jesus extended love and life to Saul. Moreover, Jesus declared that Saul, formerly the murderous tool of Satan, was now God’s chosen instrument!

Saul never got over God’s grace. Everywhere he tried to tell people that no one anywhere under any circumstances is beyond the reach of the Gospel. Here’s a truth I hope we will remember for the rest of our lives, every day of our lives. No one anywhere under any circumstances is beyond the reach of the Gospel!

Pastor Rob