This post, by Don Hu, is a reflection on the “Conversion: Not a One Off” sermon as part of the “Unraveled” sermon series.
The story of Saul’s Road-to-Damascus experience (Acts 9) is usually considered his conversion story. Few people have such a dramatic experience. For some of us, our conversion story is clear in terms of how it happened, to within hours or days. Then there are people who cannot pinpoint a specific conversion story. When we scrutinize our faith journey, we can be proud of both a clear conversion story and a non-specific conversion that is the result of a generational blessing.
Elaine delivered a message this Sunday in which she made the point that conversion is usually a lifelong process. It made me think about a simple question: what is the essence of conversion?
When we consider this question, we find a lot of resources, as outlined in the sermon, even right in the book of Acts. We find the story of Phillip and the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8). We also find the story of Peter and the conversion of the gentile centurion Cornelius, which is arguably the conversion of Peter to God’s predetermined grace for all people (Acts 10). In each case we find grace already at work before the dramatic change; and we see that grace is still very much needed in the life after the dramatic event.
The main take away for me is this: conversion is the work of God; no one comes to God without the work of God, so no one can really be proud on the merits of the self. If we take a magnifying glass to the particularities of the effect of God’s work in us, we may start to go astray. God’s work in us is important and should be fully committed to in order to fulfill the purpose of God in us. This is a gradual and lifelong process. Of course, it is more easily said than actually lived out, but God did not give these experiences of His work in us to trip us up; we have the promise and the hope of God’s presence and we should always magnify Christ. It is not head knowledge, but personal knowledge of Christ.
This came to me later in my reflection: once I was part of a small group studying Acts. When we got to Acts 23:11 (it was much later in Paul’s journey than was his original conversion), we read about when the Lord (Jesus) stood beside Paul to encourage him during one of his toughest nights. A young brother in the small group was more shocked by this part of the story than by anything else. His shock woke me (the facilitator) up to understanding how extraordinary it was that Paul needed this encouragement. It reminded me that Paul’s conversion did not happen overnight.