“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.” (Acts 9:1-3 NIV)

The rain pounded. As I watched out my window, I could hear but not see it. Then, without warning, the lightning would flash, racing across the sky lighting up everything in its path. The night became light around me. I saw the rain sheeting down. The barn stood out in stark relief, the grass rippled wildly and the trees danced as madmen with the wind. Split seconds later the thunder roared, the windows shook, darkness returned. Hour after hour it went on. Then it was done.

As a spectator of this powerful heavenly display, I could not help but expect to see Jesus suddenly riding in all His glory across the heavens as they were split by the flashing of lightning and the roaring of the thunder. Of course, I did not see Him, other than in the window of my mind, but it was a grave reminder that He will indeed be coming again. He will come when the world is at its darkest, when faith has dimmed on earth. He will come with power and glory, for as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. (See Matthew 24:27, 28, 30, 31)

Just as in the days of Saul, today many breathe murderous threats against others, be they Christians or not. We live in growing darkness where the word of the Lord is often ignored, laughed at, thought to be out dated and only for fools. Therefore, let us pray that the Lord will have mercy upon those who hate Him or simply ignore Him. For just as the lightning flashes across the sky illuminating everything in its path, the truth of Christ and His salvation has the power to enlighten and change even the hardest of hearts in the twinkling of an eye.

Prayer: Father God, empower the prayers of Your people to release the power of Your Holy Spirit to enlighten the hearts of those who do not yet know You, that none should perish but be saved before the day of Your return. In Christ’s name we ask. Amen.

Lynne Phipps