Only God Can Change A Life

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against The Lord's disciples.  He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'  'Who are you, Lord?'  Saul asked.  'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,'  He replied ... The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.  So they led him by the hand into Damascus.  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.  In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision ... Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul ... Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength ... At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is The Son of God.  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?' "  Acts 9:1-22 (NIV)
  Luke, the physician and travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, here records the conversion of Saul, which was Paul's given name.  Paul went from prosecutor to preacher after his encounter with The Lord on the road to Damascus.   This Bible story should teach us several things.  One, only God can truly change someone's life and heart.  Two, those people who used to run with us will notice the change in us, but they will not understand it, and they will not be changed.  Three, God must change us before He can use us, and we must go through something as part of it.  Four, we don't know how God plans to use someone so don't judge them by their past.  Five, it does not matter what kind of sinner we were beforehand, God can turn our life around and use us to be a blessing to others.  Jesus said that Saul was praying (verse 11), and maybe that is what we should do so that God will us us as He sees fit to do His will.