Worst of the Worst: WOW Factor

Acts 8:1 "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."

"I'm too bad to be a Christian!" some say. Others think "Why waste my time praying for him. He's so bad that he'll never change!" And even others "Before I can get saved I need to clean up my act!" All these are lies that Satan spreads to diminish Jesus!

You see Jesus is King, but Satan is a Pretender to the Throne. Throughout history monarchies, which have kings, most of which are legitimate and of the royal blood line; and oftentimes, those who "pretend" to the throne because they are not legitimate heirs or not the designated heir.

Jesus is legitimate:

John 18:37 "Pilate therefore said unto him, 'Art thou a king then?' Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice'."

Satan is an impostor:

2 Corinthians 4:4 " In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Satan then has two purposes (as discussed in an earlier commentary): 1) Prevent you from following Jesus, or 2) Destroy your faith in Jesus. When that notion comes into your mind "I'm too bad to be saved." or "He's too bad for salvation." That's what Satan wants you to think!

Now review Acts 8 above.  Saul, that's Paul, consented to the death of Stephen, God's disciple. And then from verse 3 "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."

Saul hated Christians. He was however, a Jew and a Pharisee. As such he believed in God yet hated God at the same time. Although Judaism awaits a Messiah, when he came, the Jews rejected him. The Pharisees were very religious. They were the first to criticize and persecute anyone who was a threat to their narrow view of tradition (the laws). Since Jesus claimed to be God, and did wonders which only God could do, they wanted to snuff out not only Christ, but any memory of Christ. Saul was the worst of the worst (The WOW).

The casual Christian in apostolic times would say "No way will Saul become a Christian. He's too hateful!" But nothing is too hard for God. Even after Saul was saved many of the apostles failed to accept him until others vouched for him!

Acts 9:20 "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ."

Saul had a transformation (commentary in a later blog). He changed from Saul to Paul, but that was a name only! He went from being a zealot in the persecution of Christians to being a zealot in telling others about Jesus. Before he denied God, then after his transformation, he taught that Jesus is God. You see Paul signified that Saul was a new creation. As a new person Saul changed. His name change was symbolic of his spiritual change. He went from WOW to BOB (best of the best), not in a human sense, but inside! His spirit changed. He now loved what once he hated!

People often say "I won't change for anybody. They'll have to accept me as I am!" Jesus does accept you as you are, but guess what?  When Jesus accepts those who submit they WILL CHANGE! If there is no change, one needs to reflect on their own sincerity. I suppose that Saul's thoughts were "I am a Jew, I won't change for Jesus." Then he changed and then he loved!

Some of us have been hard-hearted. We have been so sinful that Christians give up on us. My own Father prayed diligently and unceasingly for all his children. Some were harder than others. Jesus himself raised up Saul, who was the WOW. Jesus can change Saul, he can change _______ (fill in a name you ahve given up on). What's in it for that hard-hearted person? Love:

Luke 7:42 "And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged."

Paul became a zealot. His zealousness was a demonstration of his love  for Jesus. Why? Because Jesus forgave him the most. This, my friends, is the true WOW factor! That is when Jesus takes the WOW and wipes clean all the dirt. That old relic becomes the BOB! (The Gambler on "Storage Wars" has little idea what the 'WOW Factor" is all about!).

There is nothing too hard for God. There is no heart too hard for God:

Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee..."

Now for that person for whom you quit praying because "He's too far gone!" Go pray!