Let your unique light shine!

The Institutes of the Christian Religion 1.8.11

"Although most men are blind to their writings, yet the very heavenly majesty therein holds all men closely attached and as it were bound to itself. But this one fact raises their doctrine more than enough above the world: Matthew, previously tied to the gain of his table, Peter and John going about in their boats-all of them rude, uneducated men-had learned nothing in the school of men that they could pass on to others. Paul, not only a sworn but fierce and murderous enemy, was converted into a new man; this sudden and un-hoped for change shows that he was compelled by heavenly authority to affirm a doctrine that he had assailed. Let these dogs deny that the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles; or even let them discredit history. Yet the truth cries out openly that these men who, previously contemptible among common folk, suddenly began to discourse so gloriously of the heavenly mysteries must have been instructed by the Spirit."

This section of The Institutes of Christian Religion is concerned with the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, which are very weighty matters to be settled in every Christian’s mind if they are to apply themselves as teachable to the Scriptures. However, what struck me were these words "Paul, not only a sworn but fierce and murderous enemy, was converted into a new man; this sudden and un-hoped for change shows that he was compelled by heavenly authority to affirm a doctrine that he had assailed."

I thought about how Paul was incredibly educated and steeped in tradition—a Hebrew of Hebrews. His convictions lead him to slander Christ and murder Christians. Yet, at the moment of Paul’s salvation, Paul’s heart was forever changed with the Truth. The Truth was the Light and the Light shattered the darkness of deceptive thinking.

The Apostle Paul is the author of thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Part of what made Paul such an amazing theologian was not just his knowledge of the Old Testament, but was his first hand knowledge of the errant lines of thinking of the Pharisees and Greek philosophers. Paul’s letters show us that he was intimately acquainted with both sides of the arguments. He knew what their stumbling blocks were because they were once his own!

What struck me is this: God uses us not in spite of our past, but uses us and even our past. God could have saved Paul at a young age or before he became a feared persecutor of Christians, but He didn't. Paul's life prior to his conversion uniquely equipped him to be a mighty extension of God's arm! God continues to use Paul's teaching and preaching to save souls from Hell's grasp.

Your errant lines of thinking prior to your conversion have uniquely equipped to minister to those caught in the same deception and to warn others not to become deceived. Your testimony is NOT your own! Every Christian is a trophy of God’s grace! Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light (Luke 11:33).”


Praise God for saving us exactly when He did! Praise God salvation came not a moment too soon nor a moment too late! Praise God who is sovereign and who is able to use sinful people like you and me to further His Kingdom! What a mighty God we serve!

Let your unique light shine!