I knew it was annoying. But even as a child, I understood that my mom’s smoking wasn’t good for her. So, in my self-righteous mission, I would snatch her pack of cigarettes and toss them into the dishwater. Because my cause was just, I felt my relentless efforts were justified—even a badge of honor. I was rather proud of how aggressively I fought the evils of smoking… until I met a former smoker.
I’ve never smoked, but I actually feel sorry for those who try to light up around former smokers. The glares, the lectures, the relentless warnings about the dangers of smoking, the personal testimonies of how they quit, and the unrelenting pressure for others to do the same—it’s an all-out assault. A few passionate former smokers can do more to discourage smoking than every Surgeon General’s warning ever printed.
There is undeniable power in the testimony of someone who has been set free from a destructive lifestyle or sin—especially when that same person once championed the very thing they now condemn. The conversion of Saul to Paul is the definitive biblical example. Once a murderous, self-righteous religious leader, Saul became the most outspoken advocate for the very faith he once persecuted.
There is a holy expectation brewing for many Saul-to-Paul conversions that will impact the kingdom. None is more prominent than Dr. Abby Johnson. You may know her from Unplanned, the book and movie about her life. Once a passionate advocate for “women’s healthcare,” her misguided zeal for helping women in need led her to become a Planned Parenthood director and Employee of the Year, overseeing approximately 22,000 abortions.
Abby Johnson’s Damascus road experience happened when she assisted with an abortion and watched it on ultrasound. The scales fell from her eyes. She walked away from Planned Parenthood, became a passionate pro-life advocate, and founded And Then There Were None, a ministry that has helped nearly 700 workers leave the abortion industry.
Dr. Abby Johnson will be at First Baptist Church Woodstock this Sunday, March 2. It is sponsored by Marietta 40 Days for Life, a pro-life ministry led by my dear friends Suzanne and Rachel Guy.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE TICKETS Like the Apostle Paul’s conversion, Abby Johnson’s journey from abortion provider to advocate for life inspires us with knowing that:
No One is Beyond God’s Grace
The Apostle Paul said:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example… 1 Timothy 1:15-16
No one is beyond God’s reach. As Isaiah 59:1 declares, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save.” Paul and Abby Johnson’s dramatic transformations prove that no sin is too great for God’s mercy and forgiveness. If He could redeem them, He can transform anyone.
God Can Use Our Past for His Glory
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose. Romans 8:28
God uses the flawed backgrounds of flawed people to enact His purposes and have significant kingdom impact. Paul’s knowledge of the Law and zeal as a Pharisee were once used to persecute Christians. They were later used to spread the Gospel effectively. Dr. Abby Johnson uses her history with abortion clinics and zeal to help women in need to lead abortion workers out of the industry. Likewise, our past experiences—good or bad—can be redeemed for God’s purpose.
True Change Comes from Encountering Jesus
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47
Saul’s conversion and Abby Johnson’s metamorphosis was not just a change in belief but a total transformation of heart and purpose. When we truly encounter Christ, we become new creations.
God doesn’t just redeem us—He repurposes us.
Jesus didn’t just forgive Paul for persecuting His body, the Church (Acts 9:4), He reforms and redirects all of Paul’s energy and passion, and conforms Paul’s purpose to His own.
People said of Paul:
“That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy.” Gal 1:23
What experiences from our past—especially those that once caused harm to us and others—can Jesus redeem and repurpose to destroy the works of the devil and advance God’s kingdom?
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