In the book of Acts chapter 9, verses 3-9 the text speaks of the life altering experience that Saul undergoes while traveling into the city of Damascus. As he road into Damascus a light shined on him from heaven which caused him to fall to the ground. As he fell to the earth he heard a voice that questioned his loyalty to the lord, Jesus Christ. The voice that interrogated him on his prior persecution was that of the Christ. Overwhelmed and frightened by the unexpected encounter with which he was experiencing he replied to the voice by asking what he could do to obtain forgiveness for his disloyalty. The voice replied by instructing him to continue onto Damascus, where he would be given further instruction. The men that were journeying with Saul were also astonished by the absence of a man to accompany the voice that they had previously heard. All of the men continued their journey into Damascus where Saul was without sight and did not eat or drink as well for three days. As the story persists the instruction that Saul would eventually receive was to become a messenger for Christ and relay his teachings to the world.
What draws me away from Islam and Judaism? Why can't I understand Buddhism or Hinduism? Why am I not a Christian? Well, mainly because what happened to the Apostle Paul (at this point still Saul) on the road to Damascus, as related above, has never happened to me, and I've even been to Damascus, by three different roads, and to the traditional spot were Paul is supposed to have entered the city. But don't most people become immersed in their religion without such an experience? Yes, but perhaps they don't have as much to overcome as did Pau ...