Paul's Journey to The Road of Damascus Leading to The Door of Faith

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

MATTHEW 7 : 13 - 14 NLT

This is one amongst the teachings of Jesus Christ recorded as Sermon on The Mount.

As I searched for the synonyms of "gate"/ "gateway" in Oxford dictionary, I found "entrance", "door"/ "doorway".

Spiritually, this "door" that we will explore is a metaphor representing no other than Jesus Christ.

One of His great "I AM’s" is "I Am The Door."

As it is declared in JOHN 10: 9-10 NKJV

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

NLT version: ^"Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

The "broad way" represents the path of sin and self-centeredness. It ultimately leads to destruction and separation from God.

One of the greatest examples of a Biblical character that I’d say have confidently and pridefully travelled the broad road of unbelief about Jesus Christ, to bring destruction to Jesus’ believers, only to be stopped and be led to a narrow gate- the door of great transformation in his life and to fulfil his mission and purpose is Apostle Paul, previously known as Saul.

The highlight of his life story in the Bible was shown when he was traveling in the road of Damascus (wide and broad road) to persecute the followers of the “Way”(Jesus Christ).

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

ACTS 9: 1-2 NIV

We can see from here that from his mission to bring destruction to the faithful, in his active journey on a wide/ broad road, that might lead to his destruction as well, his story of faith unfolded when it was narrowed down and had an encounter with “The Door” which is Jesus Christ, leading to a faithful and purposeful life.

I would like to use an acronym for the “D-O-O-R” to somehow remind us that in this forever changing and evolving and expanding world, there is only one way, one door leading to spiritual growth, and more importantly, to salvation - that is Jesus Christ and we will reflect on the circumstances on the life of Apostle Paul as an inspiration.

 1.     D – DIVINE INTERVENTION

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children  of Israel.

ACTS 9: 15 NKJV

The term "Apostle to the Gentiles" is primarily associated with Apostle Paul, he is a pivotal figure in the early Christian Church whose missionary works and theological contributions significantly shaped the spread of Christianity beyond Jewish communities.

We can reflect from here that it is only through divine intervention that our life purpose will be revealed. And God can use anyone and any circumstances in order to accomplish His plan. He can even use the hardest sinner to accomplish His plans.

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles by God’s choice. The Lord Jesus declared that He had a specific mission for Him. Paul had been set apart from birth and called by God’s grace so that he might “preach Christ among the Gentiles”. 

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.

GALATIANS 1: 15-16

It is written already. Each one of us has a special calling to advance the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, it is impossible to uncover that because “we are in this world”, because we are making our own way, but God will make a way, through His divine interventions.

2.    O- OBEDIENCE

We will look in to obedience of two completely opposite people:

a.    Obedience of Saul

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

ACTS 9: 5-6

 Saul have not seen the Lord, he just heard the voice but he called Him "Lord". 

Then upon hearing that it is Jesus who was talking to him, instead of being consumed by fear, he asked: “What do you want me to do?” There was an instant obedience and if we will follow his story and his missions up to his death, we can confidently say that he indeed became whole- heartedly and faithfully obedient.

b.   Obedience of Ananias

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord  Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

ACTS 9: 10; 13; 17

Ananias showed a strong sense of obedience to the Lord as well.

Saul became obedient even without knowing yet what lies ahead, or what the obedience will bring. However, Ananias has an idea that what Jesus wants him to do seems risky, and like a matter of life and death, but he still obeyed.

Are we like Saul? Do we have that enough faith to be obedient or are we going to fight that voice within us that might reveal to us the greatest mission of our lives? Are we listening to the voice that is leading us to complete conversion/ transformation or are we playing deaf?

Are we like Ananias? Are we ready to risk our life as an answer to God’s calling – to serve and support those who are seemingly undeserving?

It is only through prayer, Bible devotions and fellowship with our brethren that we will be able to listen to what the Lord wants us to do.

Being obedient doesn’t mean just following the laws, but picking up our cross and following Jesus.

3.    O – OPPORTUNITY

Immediately he preached  the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose,

so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

But Saul increased even more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

ACTS 9: 20-22

Paul never wasted the opportunity to preach the Gospel right after his conversion. His life became an opportunity to minister, to testify about Jesus.

If we will read further about the ministry and mission of Paul, it didn’t lead to a beautiful ending, however, during his lowest times, in prison, he never stopped. He wrote letters to various churches and believers about critical and valuable truths about Jesus and the gift of salvation for all.

Even during his trials, he prioritized preaching about Jesus Christ above his own personal situation. He remained steadfast and firm to the faith that transformed him.

Acts 22 - Paul Speaks to the Crowd

Like Paul, we must not neglect the opportunities that come our way to know God and Jesus even more, through prayer, Bible study and purposeful fellowship with other believers.

We must not waste every opportunity that will come our way to strengthen our faith and the faith of others. We must embrace all setbacks in life as an opportunity to grow and be victorious in faith.

We must become generous in giving the non-believers opportunity to get to know God/ Jesus through our evangelism works.

4.    R – RELATIONSHIP

“Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

ACTS 13: 26

-

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

EPHESIANS 3: 6-7 NLT

Paul have preached the Good News to the Jews and to the Gentiles. The aim of the Good News is to rebuild our relationship to God by letting them understand the amazing truth about salvation and mercy and grace.

The only thing that Paul aimed for is to let the Jews and the Gentiles be reminded about the value of believing in and accepting Jesus Christ. That Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the one that restored our relationship with God.

Do we have that unquestionable faith in Jesus Christ leading to an unbreakable relationship to God? Do we aim to let the unbelievers know that beautiful relationship too that awaits them?

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is the door. He is the only way to the Lord, our Father.

In LUKE 13: 23-24

Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

Knowing the door is a divine intervention.

He wants us to know Him because He has plans for us to fulfil.

We will only hear the voice of the Lord talking to us if we take time to slow down, pray, read the Bible, have purposeful fellowship in our spiritual community and we discern and obey what He tells us.

Everything that happens in our lives, can become an opportunity to be transformed in faith, and all people who we have encounter with, are important part of the journey, we can be “Paul” to “Saul” out there.

And the aim of that journey is towards solidifying our personal relationship with God.

As we get to know Jesus Christ, the road becomes narrower and less travelled; it becomes lonelier to some. But there is always assurance:

In JOHN 14:6- 7 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know  my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”