Some of us are alive and some of us are the walking dead. Often, but certainly not always, we can see the deadness in the eyes of people, their gateway to the soul. I don't know about you, but at times I get the chills from some individuals, as if they were not from this present world.
The goads
A goad was a tool of sorts made from wood and used to prod and control beasts of burden, such as oxen to farm land. It was pointed on one end and farmers pricked an animal to get it into motion. When the animal resisted and kicked against the goad, it typically hurt and/or injured itself and went against the will of the farmer.
Paul Steffenson writes that to "kick against the goads" is nothing less than an exercise in vanity; futile and pointless. The ancient Greeks and Romans used this agricultural phrase saying to imply "ruinous resistance"(Steffenson, 2018).
An animal soon learned that when it was goaded not to resist the farmer's will but to get moving.
And, though people were (and are) alive physically, they were and are in all actual reality the walking dead. They were and today are beating their heads and fists against a brick wall and are headed nowhere fast. Rather they are stuck in a meaningless life and ever struggling from day to day. They refuse to accept the will of God for their lives and kick against the goads. That is not living.
Paul (then Saul)
Paul was such man as described above. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees and knew the Old Testament Law in and out. And he practiced it with fervor, believing it was the way to salvation for the Jews only.
He was such a proponent of the Law that he persecuted the early Christians, even giving the okay to kill them. Funny how a man so dedicated to the Law totally ignored the fifth Commandment not to murder (Exodus 20:13).
But one day Paul was hoofing it onward towards Damascus to beat the living tar out of some more Christians and to bring them to Rome to prison, when he was met on the road by the resurrected Jesus.
"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?” (Acts 9:3, NIV).
Can you imagine? Saul's response was, "Who is it, Lord?"(v. 4). I can only believe there was more that occurred, as far as the discourse went, but Paul doesn't give us all the details. Instead, he provides us with what is necessary.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”(Acts 9:5-6, NIV).
We also see that Paul was struck blind for three days. After he went into Damascus, a frightened Christian who knew about Saul, was commanded by Jesus to lay hands on Paul, whereupon his sight was restored.
Through the phrase “kick against the goads,” the risen Lord Jesus was informing Saul that he could not persist on resisting the pleadings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One who prompts you to respond to the call of Jesus, though many ignore Him. The Holy Spirit convicts a person of their sin.
Anyway, Paul was converted to Christianity. Jesus had spoken to Saul, who became Paul, about the gospel that was to be preached to the Jews and the Gentiles. And he immediately did so!
Paul before King Agrippa
Later, we see another account of Paul's encounter with Jesus with respect to the goads. This is when Paul is making his defense before King Agrippa after the Jews had him imprisoned and had accused him of crimes.
"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’" (Acts 26:12-14, NIV).
Spiritual food for thought
If you are one of those who are alive and kicking against the goads, why not cease and desist from your resistance to the Holy Spirit and enter into the rest of Christ Jesus? Have you no fear of eternity?
How long will you continue to harm yourself, even to the point of death? It's your call, nobody will force you. You are free to walk as the living dead, blind and disobedient to God's will. May your eyes be opened and your heart receptive.
Referemce
Steffenson, P. (2018). From the Pulpit: Are you 'kicking against the goads'?
Post Bulletin. Retrieved https://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/from-the-pulpit-are-you-kicking-against-the-goads/article_9defc488-692c-11e8-8681-cf0f3b51e4be.html
Its a really good Story dear. GOD is always with us.