“…I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19)
At the beginning of his life with Christ Paul received a dynamic vision of the Lord Jesus that transformed his life. In Acts 26 he is recounting the story of his conversion, which he loved to do, before King Agrippa.
Although St. Paul had a unique place in history as a writer of the New Testament, all believers will benefit by seeing him as a pattern for their own lives. While few of us have as dramatic a testimony of our conversion to Christ, it is just as true that God has a unique plan for each of us. Our Father desires to reveal His plan for us to us as He desired to reveal His plan for Paul to Paul.
It may involve a name change similar to Paul’s from Saul, which means to ask or demand (Saul, a Pharisee, was driven by the demands of the law) to Paul, meaning “little,” which not only reinforced the image that other people had of him (Paul was very small of stature, according to tradition) but was a reminder to him that he was the “least” of the apostles, entirely dependent upon the grace of God for his ministry. (see 1 Corinthians 15:9-10) The Holy Spirit years ago bestowed a secret affectionate name upon me that reminds me of what I am called to do.
It is important to spend extended time with God, early in our Christian life and from time to time on the journey, to hear His voice concerning this “heavenly vision.” If necessary skip a few meals or hole up with Him for a few days with your Bible to be quiet and listen. After you are sure that you have heard from Him, be sure to write it down. Recount it back to Him and be sure that every part of it is inspired. This is important because you will not understand every part of it, but as it unfolds in the years ahead, referring back to it, as Paul often did, can strengthen you in times of testing, delay, or persecution (see Habakkuk 2:1-3).
