Nobody is Beyond Hope

We all sin, some more than others, but we all fall short of the glory of God. There are those who seem to be committed to sin. They wake up scheming how to sin. Some even work diligently to make others suffer. Jesus Christ didn’t just come for us, He came for ‘those people’ also.

In those days, Philip was found at Azotos, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea. But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, ” I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened.

Acts 8:40; 9:1-19

The one we ‘now call’ Saint Paul was one of those men dedicated to making others suffer for their faith. He had gained a reputation of being so fierce that Christians were afraid to just be in his presence. God had other plans for him.

Saul may have been fierce, but Paul was committed to God. In God’s eyes nobody is beyond hope. If Saul can change, anyone can change but nobody changes on their own. Ananias feared Saul but loved God more. When God asked Ananias to help Saul, love was put into action.

We must learn to trust that God wants everyone to have a chance to be in the Church. God wants everyone to be with Him in heaven. God wants to save everyone. Of course, some will refuse, some will kick and scream, some may require momentary blindness to find God.

Open your hearts to God and be willing to be ‘someone’s Ananias’ by putting love into action. Open your hearts to the people you encounter today, or any day. God may have told them you were waiting to see them. If Ananias refused, Paul might still be Saul. We can’t refuse. Every interaction is a chance for others to see God through us