Being obedient to the heavenly vision

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”(Acts 26:19)

This is the account of Paul, the Apostle, standing trial before king Agrippa. Paul begins his defense by saying that he has lived as a Pharisee all his life and it is because of his hope in what God has promised that he’s on trial. He tells his life story of how he was persecuting the church of God and how Jesus appeared to him. Quoting Paul's words from the book of Acts, “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.” (Acts 26:12-15)

Paul continues his defence speaking of how Jesus told him that He had chosen him (Paul) as a light to people who were living in darkness and also that He will rescue him (Paul) from his own people and from the Gentiles; that He will be sending him to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who were sanctified by faith in Jesus. Paul finally tells king Agrippa that he was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

God speaks to those who have put their trust in him by accepting Jesus as Savior, through visions and dreams and through his Word as one meditates on it. It may not be as great a experience as the apostle Paul had in his life, yet most of us are prompted in our spirit by the Holy Spirit. He shows the right paths that we should choose, whether it is in our personal lives or in the ministry.

The Apostle Paul was obedient to the vision from heaven. There was a great change in his life because of that. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and all Judea, and to the Gentiles Paul preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
We too have to be obedient to the vision we have received from heaven, especially if we are called to work for the Lord, to do service for the Lord, to minister to the Lord. Being obedient will bring lasting peace and satisfaction in our lives even in the midst of strife.