I see Jesus. I automatically think of Stephen when I hear these words. Yet they are words every Christian should long to say. Stephen was one of the seven chosen by the Apostles in Acts 6 to take care of the daily affairs of the church. He must have been the kind of church member every Pastor longs to have. Stephen allowed God to have full control of him and even the unbelievers in the synagogue were not able to resist his wisdom nor “the spirit by which he spake.”
Stephen used every opportunity to share the gospel. There were Jews that stirred the people to a mad frenzy. They seized Stephen, forced him to appear before the Sanhedrin, and falsely accused him of blasphemy. Stephen knew his life was in danger. He did not back down but boldly took his last opportunity to share the gospel. He then challenged the leaders. He went straight to the scriptures and summarized all that had happened to the Israelites. He taught them about the coming of the Messiah that they had murdered. He then accused them of being stiff-necked and uncircumcised, where it really matters, in their heart.
Act 7:51 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye”.
He condemned them as betrayers and murderers of Jesus! They were so angry that it overcame them. The Bible says they literally gnashed on them with their teeth. My mind takes me to a picture of ravaging wolves tearing apart their prey. When he told them he saw Jesus standing, and the glory of God, they became violent and covered their ears and ran screaming at him. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. Even as they slowly killed him, one rock at a time, he knelt and ask God to not lay this at their charge. His last breath was pleading for the ones who were killing him.
Act 7:55-56 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Act 7:60 “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
I believe in America there will come a day when Christians will be martyred for their faith. However, unless things change greatly in the Christian churches in America, there will be far more that will deny Christ, when things get tough, than those that will give their life for him. We have cheapened the grace of God. We are so weak we can’t even tell a coach we will not miss church for a ballgame. We can’t tell our families not to plan things on Sunday because that is the day we dedicate to serving God. We give in at a time when it would be easy to take a stand. If we are not willing to pay the small price of our child not playing, or our family being disappointed, because we miss “little Johnny’s” birthday, then we won’t pay the big price with our lives, for Christ. At a time when we can secure heaven and make the most impact, we will fail!
Have you thought of the impact you can have by standing firm on what the Bible teaches? Putting Christ above everything else? Think of the long-term impact you will have on your children. Yes, they may be upset because they didn’t get to play, but they will see what is really important in your life. Think of the testimony you will have with the coaches, teammates, families involved, and your own extended family. When they think of you will they first think about who you live for, or will they view your relationship with Christ as a “part of your life,” not your life?
At a time in our history when the world needs to see Jesus clearly, we seem to be mudding the water. Ask yourself the hard question. Will the world see Jesus in me?
