From Persecutor To Preacher

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” - 1 Corinthians 15:10

Persecution of the Christian faith seems to be on the rise and getting closer to home. In many nations, it is illegal to be a Christian. In these nations, Christians are forced to go underground, putting their lives at risk as they worship and serve God. Even in nearby Canada, preachers have been imprisoned as they publicly worshiped during the Covid outbreak. Here in the United States, there are many who wish to hinder Christians and suppress the Gospel message.

In times like this, it is important for us to realize that God is still in control. He has the power to change lives, including the most ardent persecutors. An excellent example of this is Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a zealous persecutor. He made it his life mission to silence Christians and stop Christianity. Yet Saul had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. The persecutor soon became a preacher.

I've been writing about those who've made a positive difference in this world for the glory of God. While my writing has not included an exhaustive list of Biblical characters, we have looked at a few great men that God has used to make an impact in this world. We would be amiss to address this kind of subject without mentioning the Apostle Paul. Early in the book of Acts, he was referred to as Saul, but after his conversion, he was referred to as Paul.

Paul seemed to be a one-man spiritual dynamo. Although he had been a zealous sinner, after his conversion he became a zealous preacher. Why was Paul used so mightily to make a difference? Let me share just a few reasons.

1. A DRAMATIC CONVERSION

First of all, Paul had a dramatic conversion. I don't know of anyone with a conversion story like Paul's. In order to get his attention, God had to literally stop him in his tracks. With a blinding light from heaven, he was forced to see things differently. The persecutor was made to know that when he persecuted the people of Christ, he was persecuting Christ Himself. There in shock and awe, Paul met Jesus Christ. This profoundly changed his life. More than once, he would later share his salvation experience with others. A dramatic conversion made a dramatic change in his life.

2. A DIVINE CALLING

Secondly, Paul had a divine calling on his life. The persecutor became a preacher. Even though had a fiery zeal in his persecution of Christianity, he had a greater zeal in spreading the message of Christianity after his conversion. He was called to preach the very Gospel he had resisted. He was called to suffer for the very Gospel he made others suffer for. The persecutor would become the persecuted. The one who sought the death of Christians was now a Christian that others sought to slay.

3. A DETERMINED COMMITMENT

Finally, Paul had a determined commitment. He counted everything as loss in comparison to knowing Jesus Christ. He was sold out to the Lord. Once he would be stoned and left for dead, just to rise up and go forward preaching the next day. He suffered beatings, imprisonment and shipwreck. He knew what it was like to go hungry. Yet in spite of it all, he remained faithful to the Lord. Ultimately, he wrote much of our New Testament. He had a determined commitment.

Paul's influence is still being felt today. Although Peter was the first to preach the Gospel to Gentiles, the thrust of Paul's ministry was aimed at the Gentiles. The Gentile world has been impacted with the Gospel because of the Apostle Paul. As a gentile, I am grateful for Paul's ministry, writing and influence. What about you?

Despite temptations to be proud of his accomplishments, Paul gave credit where it really belonged. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Writing to the Galatians, Paul wrote, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

What a testimony from a man that God used in remarkable ways!