Acts 7. 56 “Look,”
he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of
God.” – St. Stephen
Last week, I drove to a town about 150 miles away to meet
with clients. One client is particularly fairly unpredictable, so it was no
surprise to me that when I showed up at his place of business, it appeared to
be closed.
Now, I know this guy, and I just decided to wait. I
called the office to leave a message and to my surprise, someone answered the
phone. I asked if my client was there and was told, no, but he’d be there soon.
I was glad that at least, he was on his way. His office, dark tinted windows
and all, was open.
I’m glad Heaven is open as well. I’m glad that during the
worst times in my life, I have never found a “We’re Closed” sign hanging out
front. For those who come to God, must believe that He is God; and that He is always
open for the business of salvation, redemption, and restoration for those who
show up looking for Him. No locked doors. No busy phone lines.
St. Stephen was not your ordinary guy and he was making his
case to the Sanhedrin for the Messiah-ship of Christ Jesus. As he leveled his
charges against them that they were hard-hearted, and cynical; their only
response was furious anger and hatred. All they knew to do was to destroy
Stephen. But he stood there, with eyes of faith and proclaimed: “I see heaven open and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God.” Not only was Heaven open, but the Boss
was in.
We must go through our days with the mindset that heaven
is open. We cannot afford at any moment to think otherwise. God, and our access
to Him, is always there. We’re ever only a prayer away; and the full and total
resources of Heaven, and all that includes, are at our disposal. The only thing
required of us is faith – a settled belief that the open sign is on, the light
is on, and the Owner is in.
Stephen, we might think, was facing a terrible moment.
His detractors were picking up stones to throw at him with vicious force; they were
going to kill him. But Stephen saw the sign, the light, and the Owner. Stephen
knew no power on earth could keep him from the power of Heaven, and the One who
stands waiting for His children to come home. I don’t think Stephen, given the
moment, could have been happier.
His story is our story.
Friends let us live this day knowing Heaven is Open. Let
us live this day in faith that our God is involved and active is every part of
our lives and living. Let us behave accordingly, pray accordingly, and like
Stephen, proclaim accordingly: “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of God.”
Father, You are always
Home, always on, and always with me. Heaven is open, may I live accordingly.
Amen
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