"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were_____________ " John 3:19.

Because of our upbringing, because of what our parents knew or didn't know, because of where we were born, and what happened as we were learning to process life's experiences, because of our peculiar personality quirks, we have come to believe what we believe about ourselves, our surroundings, our past and our destiny. We are not condemned for following our conscience, but we are warned repeatedly that self-deception is rampant! Our conscience can be sincere, and sincerely wrong.

Take Saul, for example. A Jew, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, the great teacher. Saul was well acquainted with the scriptures that pointed to the Messiah. These had been his life-long study. He was also aware of the corruption in the Jewish nation, as well as in the whole religious hierarcy. Saul was a "Pharisee of the Pharisees," a devout man who kept the law and who was looking for the promised Messiah, a glorious deliverer who would free his beloved nation from the yoke of the hated Roman oppressor.

It is no surprise then, that he would be deeply interested and agitated by the news that a young man of the province of Galilee had declared Himself to be "the Anointed One," the "I AM", the Sent of God. Saul examined the facts and decided, according to his knowledge, that they didn't add up. From Galilee? No, He was supposed to be from Bethlehem, David's city. Born a bastard child to a woman of Nazareth who, all the village knew, had cheated on her espoused husband? Hardly. Never attended rabbinal schools? Often found breaking the laws of Moses and the 10 commandments? Teaching submission to the Roman yoke?...How could this be the Messiah?

Yet, Saul had heard other things: an angel appearing in a dream to the betrayed husband, telling him to marry the pregnant girl "because that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (see Matthew 1:20); the feeding of 5,000 men (with the unmentioned women and children the total number was probably more like 10,000 to 12,000); the miraculous healing of lepers, the raising of a man named Lazarus from the tomb, after 4 days interment. After a public execution, instigated by the Sanhedrin and crucified by the Romans, this supposed deliverer was himself raised from the dead. Then He had disappeared into heaven!

Oh,.....really? Preposterous! An incredible story! How could Nicodemus, a prominent teacher and leader, and Joseph of Arimathaea, a man of impeccable character and a staunch supporter of the Messianic covenant---how could they have fallen for this heap of gossip? Those stupid fishermen, and that hated tax collector, well anyone could understand they're being deceived. The silly common people were always itching to try some new philosophy, some new belief. They didn't care for the rules and laws that the rabbis taught. They wanted a cheap, easy religion.

But Saul, as he says of himself, "profited above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the tradition of my fathers." (Galatians 1:14)

But, oh... those misgivings he had, as he was dragging perfectly gentle, law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping, honest and honorable people out of their homes in chains! Saul delivered them to the Jewish legal system then presiding. The fanatical Saul knew that these judges were nothing more than monstrous murderers, working for hire, without a hint of justice. But his misinformed conscience led to him to do these dastardly arrests and executions.

Something in him, the "still, small voice" (see 1 Kings 19:12) that speaks to our own hearts, told him that his zeal wasn't according to knowledge. Especially, the stoning of that young man named Stephen haunted him. Saul had assisted in his arrest and also found himself at the site of the execution. The mob, goaded with boredom, and filled with mistaken zeal for "the home country," was ready for this little unpleasant task! They gathered up stones of the right size to make sizable impressions on the flesh of their victim. But they would have to do their work with dispatch, because according to the law of the hated occupation, they were not allowed to execute anyone.

Saul could see their progress was impeded by their cumbersome clothes. He offered to hold the coats of the murderers.

But, then! He saw the man's face. Stephen was looking up into heaven, and a strange, majestic light shone on his face. It appeared, for all the world, like

the "glory of God."

How many times Saul had tried to dismiss the distressing scene from his mind: the man, bloodied and mangled, his face shining with glory, crying out to the heavens: "Father, lay not this sin to their charge." Acts 7:60

Saul was thrown from his horse by this awesome light as he headed up on horseback for further Christian-killing in Damacus. With alarming concern and recognition, he said to the Presence enveloped in that light: "WHO ARE YOU?"

And the Presence spoke, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:5.

That was it for Saul. He believed, and later became the great gospel evangelist and church leader. What will it take for you, dear reader? How long have you been kicking against the pricks of conscience. Think about it: what work of evil do you love that keeps you from accepting Jesus as the light of the world. Why are you condemned? Or aren't you? What

will you do with this Christ, this Saviour of the world? "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:17-19. Think about these things. This is good news, not bad news. This is good news: that we have a Saviour! And He always answers His email.