Were you expecting a happy ending for Stephen in the second part of chapter 7? He had been doing such a masterful job of telling the story, connecting his fellow Jews. Surely, Stephen would have found favor with them. That is, until his tone changed and he began accusing his audience.
You may be wondering how I could say, “happy.” Think of it. Seeing Jesus and being in his presence is always a happy ending. It’s the ending I pray for all my loved ones, minus the stoning part. We are all going to die one day, and knowing Jesus makes death the beginning of our happy ending. Stephen saw Jesus in all his glory, and I imagine he was able to look past what the world was doing to him.
Stephen is often called the first Christian martyr. Simply put, a martyr is someone who dies for their faith. Stephen was not afraid to speak about Jesus as the Messiah and how he was killed. He said to these leaders, “You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” Stephen put them in the same category as all their ancestors who had abused or ignored God’s prophets.
The Holy Spirit filled Stephen with fearlessness. Stephen’s words cut through the darkness and led him to slaughter. Did Stephen know he was going to die? Did he have a death wish? I don’t think so. He was just being obedient to his faith. The Holy Spirit inside him could not keep quiet.
Have you ever experienced feeling empowered to speak Biblical truth? It may not have been the “popular” position to have, but you spoke out anyway. We should never stifle when the Holy Spirit prompts us.
We know that when we are walking in the light, the darkness can’t stand it. I like how the Bible says it in John 3:19-20: “And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” Jesus was the one who brought light into the world. We know how people treated God’s light when he put on flesh.
We, too, are going to encounter darkness in this world. Be careful not to fall into the temptation darkness offers. Hold firm to your faith, like Stephen did, and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you, filling your mouth with truth. Don’t be surprised if the truth hurts those stuck in darkness. Jesus never wanted people to stay stuck in their sin, and we shouldn’t either.
What is your idea of a happy ending? For the fairy tale prince and princess, it’s to live “happily ever after.” For us, as children of the King of Kings, it is to live with him forever in His heavenly kingdom. Stephen was able to see that glorious throne as he endured what darkness did to him.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Light of the World. Remember, He’s right beside you, no matter what trial or challenge you’re facing. We can begin living our happy ending here on earth by building our relationship with Jesus.
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, you are king and ruler of my life as well as my happy ending. Thank you for what you endured to save me, forgive me, and give me a glorious future with you. May I keep my eyes focused on you and the truth of Scripture. Help me to stand firm and confident as the darkness surrounds me. I trust you with my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
