Heaven Opened, and Stephen Told the Secret

With a Subtitle: Under fire and facing death, Stephen saw the risen Christ and chose to speak.

A brief Excerpt: When the pressure was crushing, God opened heaven and showed Stephen the risen Messiah. Stephen told what he saw and paid for it. That same Savior sees you, so tell the secret too.

The Author is: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 7:56, “And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'”

Background

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I’m not sure if that little saying is a truism or merely a cute turn of a phrase, but certainly times of challenge and adversity reveal certain things about a person. When one comes under fire, most likely that fire brings out either the best in the person or the worst. Heroes are made when the world is caving in all around them and they have the courage to act brave and be true, while cowards or worse are revealed when the pressure is on and they revert to lies or subterfuge, or just plain silence. Knowing something that someone else doesn’t know, a secret, can intensify the pressure one feels when you’re in a pinch. Do you relent and tell and perhaps save your hide, or do you hold fast and keep your peace? Sometimes the right thing to do depends on the situation, and almost every time it matters to us what it might do to us. It’s hard to imagine Stephen being oblivious to the atmosphere in the room as he ramped up his defense which ultimately put his accusers on trial. Their rage was not to be contained. And then, God showed Stephen a secret. He opened up the heavens and let Stephen gaze into its throne room. And standing there beside God Almighty was the risen Messiah, the point of all the contention back in Stephen’s world.

Application

And upon seeing that glory, Stephen had a decision to make. He could conclude his speech and wait for a verdict, or he could proclaim what he saw and suffer the consequences, which he no doubt knew would be most unpleasant. And speak up he did, and unpleasant it was. And not unpleasant like the uncomfortable feelings we experience when we try to talk about Jesus to a less than receptive listener. No, this was unpleasant to the point of an insane mob and hurtling stones crashing down on Stephen’s soon to be crushed body. But, the secret was told, and it’s still told today. That is, it’s told when we choose to tell it. It might be when it’s tough. It might be when you so easily could take the cowardly route. And it might be when it ends up unpleasant. But there’s a risen Savior at God’s right hand who sees you where you are. He’s got your back, your front, and especially your soul. So go ahead, tell a secret.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let the tough goings or the heat in the kitchen or the vice of pressure push you into the arms of the One who loves and knows you best.