He Stands
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I’ve been reading and re-reading the same chapter in a book for about three days now. It’s the seventh chapter of the book of Romans in the Bible. It is written by a guy named Paul who has a shady past to say the least. Not only was Paul (at that point known as Saul) involved in many murders, he wanted the people murdered simply because they were followers of Jesus. Just to clarify, Paul didn’t literally commit the murders, but he was a more than willing accessory to the murders. He literally hunted down Christians for the sole purpose of leading the doers of the deeds to the victims.
One such story is found in Acts 7 where the murder of Stephen, a disciple of Christ is recorded. Stephen was the first of the disciples to be martyred and at his stoning Jesus stood. I have always loved the fact that Jesus stood. Acts 7:54-8:1 describes the scene. “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed, at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of their killing him.”
What a tragedy. And to make it even more so, a great persecution broke out against the infant Christian church that day. All the people scattered because they were terrified for their lives. It seemed like the end of the Christian church in its infancy. Jesus’ standing at the right hand of the Father seems symbolic to me of His acknowledgement of the beginning of a battle, but a battle that would not be lost. The first disciple is killed and Jesus sees. The church is scattered and Jesus is aware. “Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” And Jesus is still in control and he has a plan.
God has a much different perspective than we have. As I write this I’m sitting on a 10th floor balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Each morning that I’ve been here a pod of dolphins have come right up to the deck of the pool where people are sunbathing. The pool deck is lifted above the water, so because the dolphins are so close, the sunbathers are unaware of their presence. From my perspective however up on the 10th floor, I have an expansive view and see clearly the dolphins approaching, when they swim in circles, roll from side to side, and chase a glimmering white fish for their breakfast.
From the perspective of the Apostles and the people of the church things looked bleak. Talk about despair and disillusionment. However God has perspective we cannot comprehend. Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And God did exactly that. Yes Stephen was tragically and violently murdered resulting in the scattering of the church. But God literally opened heaven and revealed Jesus standing to Stephen. Stephen knew he was not alone, that the God of all was aware and was with him in his death. I wonder if that is why his final death was referenced the way it was, “When he had said this, he fell asleep.” The scattering of the church ended up being what took the gospel out into the world. Stephen’s death was not in vain.
And Saul. Stephen’s death ended up having a profound impact on Saul becoming Paul. Talk about a 360 degree turn around! He went from a murderer named Saul, to Paul the greatest missionary of all time who wrote many letters in the New Testament. His thorough and complete knowledge and practice of the Jewish laws and traditions were once a sense of pride for him, but when surrendered to God became powerful and effective in reaching others throughout the world. “God did not waste any part of Paul--his background, his training, his citizenship, his mind, or even his weaknesses. Are you willing to let God do the same for you? You will never know all he can do with you until you allow him to have all that you are!”
No matter what your past is you are never beyond the reach of Jesus. Paul is proof of that. No matter what chaos and pain is occurring in your life, Jesus sees and stands just as He did for Stephen. He stands to announce that whatever battle is occurring in your life, it will not be lost. The pain doesn’t have to be in vain and as you give him access, he will work good through it all. He sees the big picture with his eternal perspective and even though we can’t see from that perspective, we can trust it.
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”