The Street Called Straight
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:1-16 (KJV)
Saul was persecuting Christians, and also Christ Himself, until he came face to face with the risen Lord. Jesus knocked him to the ground, showing Saul that he was no match for Him. Saul called Jesus Lord at that moment, which tells us that is the time when Saul was born-again. In the words of Jesus, Saul used to kick against the pricks, which speaks of resisting God. However, Jesus took Saul’s resistance away. Saul asked Jesus what he was supposed to do. Saul had realized that what he had been doing what not the will of God. So, Jesus straightened Saul out by telling him God’s true will for his life. And He gave Saul confirmation by sending Ananias to bring a word to Saul and bring healing to his blinded eyes.
God called Saul a choice vessel, meaning He would work through Saul to do what God had called him to do. He also said Saul would bear His name as a Christian proclaiming Christ to first the Gentiles, then to kings, and lastly to the Jews.. In addition, He said Saul would suffer great things for His sake. Saul, who was renamed Paul, would suffer for his faith, being persecuted for Christ’s sake.
God has a way of straightening us out. He straightens out our lives to put us on the street called Straight, or on the correct course for our lives. God will make the crooked places straight and the rough places smooth. Things go better when we’re in God’s will and walking the straight road that He has laid out for us. Sure, there will be difficulties, just as God pointed out to Paul, but God gets us through them all. I’d rather be on the water with Jesus where the wind and waves are, than in the boat in my comfort zone doing nothing for God. The wind and waves are actually safer than the boat when we’re walking with the Lord.
Being on the street called Straight means encountering Jesus daily, seeing Him, hearing Him, receiving from Him, and following Him wherever He leads. Like Paul, you will be glad you were obedient to the heavenly vision. Follow the vision Christ has given you. It will lead you to a place where you see Jesus face-to-face one day and He will commend you for a job well done.
