Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 7:54-60

Highlight Verses:

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭7‬:‭55‬-‭56‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One week ago, my wife’s dear father was laid to rest.

We are assured that he is now with Jesus and with my mother-in-law who preceded him to heaven.

He lived a long and full life, and we grieve his absence with the comforting knowledge that we will see him in heaven.

In today’s reading, Stephen is given a vision of heaven just before he dies.

We can assume he was welcomed into the presence of God.

I have heard it said, especially when people pass away at a young age that God wanted their company, so He called them home.

While eternity in paradise is just as glorious and long for those who enter it young, I do not believe that God would be so cruel as to cause people sorrow just so He could see someone sooner.

So why do some pass early?

In Stephen’s case, the answer is simple: The Jewish leaders killed him.

God made humans with free will. If we could not make our own decisions, we would not be able to love God or each other. Forced obedience is not love.

Some people make cruel decisions that affect others, even to the point of death.

From that fateful day in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to disobey, corruption entered the world. One way that corruption is seen is in sickness and disease.

While I know that God can heal, I do not know all the reasons that He does not heal every time.

I will pray in faith for healing, and I choose to trust Him with the outcome whether it seem good or bad to me.

Then, I will lean on His love for comfort and emotional healing.

Instead of answering questions, I ask you to lift up all those who are grieving today that they may feel the comfort of God in the midst of their sorrow.