David Bahn – Reflections

I have been experiencing very limited internet access these last two days. I have it worked out now, but that remains to be seen. You may already know that I do these posts for my own edification. So I wrote yesterday, and I’m writing now.

There will be no podcasts for the next two weeks, but I do hope to post the remainder of this week.

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! – Acts 8:18-20

Money can buy lots of things – from Rolex to Invicta® watches, luxury yachts to luxury suites in the fanciest hotels. But the gifts of God are not for sale. You cannot buy God’s power, influence, or especially God’s salvation. That’s been paid for by the blood of Jesus. It’s not for sale, but the priceless gift of God is freely given to all who believe.

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 31:1-5

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

Psalm 61:1-4

Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

Psalm 91:1-6

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 8:1-13

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

Our granddaughter is soon to celebrate a birthday, but we’ll not be able to be there on her special day. So we took over her birthday gift tonight, a necklace and ceramic heart-shaped box to put it and other jewelry into. We were both pleased to see she opened the birthday card first and read it all. That included the Bible passage Diane wrote from Isaiah 43, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” And, “You are precious and honored in my sight and I love you.” Then Diane said, “On a good day that’s a good thing. On a bad day, that’s a really good thing.”

Oh so true! When bad things happen, the Good News of God’s love is very precious indeed. On good days we need to remember this as well. For on the good days we can be tempted to despise God’s love, imagining that we can get by without God. I fear that is happening more and more in the United States these days.

On bad days we may be tempted to despair of God’s grace and love. We may wonder whether God really cares about us. Or we may think that God is punishing us for some misdeed and try to figure out not only what we did wrong, but also how we can make up for it. Truth be told, we’ve done many things wrong. And we can never make up for it. We have only God’s goodness and grace to rely upon.

That’s why when things are bad we must remember that the Good News is still good. When bad things happen to us we have a choice. We may turn away from God in anger, despair, shame, and doubt. Or we may move closer to God, seeking the succor of his love, goodness, grace, and salvation.

This is what the early Christians did when the terrible persecution broke out against Jesus’ followers. They not only held to the Good News of Jesus, they preached that Good News wherever they went. They knew that external circumstances don’t change the goodness of God or the truth of his word. External circumstances do not nullify God’s Good News. For the sake of Jesus God forgives our sins, promises us life abundant and eternal, and remains a faithful and good God. He is the rock that is higher than any storm.

Perhaps your life is going well. Praise God and rejoice in the Good News of Jesus. Things in your life may not be going well now. Praise God and rejoice in the Good News of Jesus. Even when the news is bad the Good News of Jesus is still good!

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Acts 8:1-13

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

My dad died when he was 64 years old, after a 7 month battle with lung cancer. Two sisters died – both younger – died before their time. My mom died having reached the age of 93. We’ve also lost a daughter-in-law well before her time, and a brother-in-law before his time. In every case, even though the times surrounding their deaths were difficult. Death was no friend. In fact, as we saw their time ebb away, we were seeing death at work.

Some people think that death is their friend – especially in the face of terrible suffering. But that’s not what the Bible teaches us. Death saps the life from us. It eats away flesh and spirit. It steals strength from our bodies. Death is an enemy. Here’s how Paul puts it in his letter to the church in Corinth:

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. – 1 Corinthians 15:21-26

When my dad died, I had the distinct conviction that the dying had ended. Death had done its worst. A man gone too soon. I could say that because he had experienced only temporal death. And as bad as that was, eternal death is even worse. Imagine a dying that never ends. Think of a passing that is never complete. It’s too terrible fully to imagine!

When Stephen died, Luke tells us, “Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.” They mourned because death is bad. It is no friend. But they did not mourn without hope. Stephen was not given over to eternal death. Stephen’s died confessing Jesus as Lord, and standing at the right hand of God. Jesus had conquered death. Still an enemy, it does not have the final say. 

For those who are in Christ, death is no friend. But death ends. We may rightly mourn when a loved one dies. But we look beyond death to an eternity of joy, peace, and glorious life.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 8:1-13

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

Have you seen the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? One of many favorite scenes in the movie has Butch facing off in a knife fight against a bigger, meaner, and more menacing man. It doesn’t look good for Butch. He didn’t want to fight in the first place. But it seems he has no choice. So he does what any smart guy would do, and cheats by saying he won’t fight until they get the rules straight. When his hulking opponent says, “Rules! What rules?” Butch fights dirty and wins with fight with a kick and a single punch.

Saul doesn’t play by the rules either – except the rule of power and resources. Whoever has the most power and resources will prevail – all things being equal. And Saul is on a tear of power and resources. He has the authority to put people in prison. He has the power to drag men and women out of their homes. He’s on a roll. We who know the fuller story, however, are aware that his reign of terror won’t last forever. It may last too long for those who are hauled off to prison. It may last too long for those intimidated by his bravado and bluster. But it will come to an end.

At first this does not appear to be the action of a weak man. He has all the cards. He’s in charge. He’s in control. But this is actually the long tail of Satan’s last gasps. (Think Gandalf being caught at the last minute as yells, “Fly you fools” and Frodo and friends flee the Balrog.) Satan is defeated. He seems strong and in control. And he is the prince of this world. But his domain is closing in. He is not the King of the Universe. That title belongs to God alone.

In his weakness Satan will do anything to quash the works of God. He will fight dirty. And he’s using Saul at this moment to do just that. This is not a truth-based fight. This is not a high moral ground battle. That battle has already been won on a hill outside Jerusalem. And the Truth that was put to death there, has been raised from the dead.

Evil will always ultimately collapse under its own weight. Truth prevails. Even when evil fights dirty, it will not win the war. Saul will find that out soon enough. So the next time you are tempted to fight dirty, think again. If you have truth and the high moral ground you will prevail. I firmly believe that. I wish more of God’s people did. Do you?

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 8:1-13

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

Perhaps we didn’t push hard enough. But we chose to try to win the hearts of our sons as they grew up. We didn’t want conformity. We wanted conviction in their hearts about right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan. Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “A person convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

Saul seems not to care about people’s hearts and convictions – except insofar as he is able to quash the hearts and convictions of those who were following Jesus. He was bent on shutting down this movement that was turning the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:6). He would stop it whatever the cost.

We’ll see.

The growth of the Christian Church during the time of Constantine was aided by the favor he showed to the Christian Church. There were some forced conversions. When lands were conquered, the people of that conquered territory were made to be Christians. Some of it was surely coerced. But it seems much more was happening. Because during this time many people became Christians out of convenience as well. But God used all of that to advance the cause of the Gospel.

It is my conviction that God will use both persecution and peace to advance the cause of his gracious and good reign. Sadly, Satan does the same to advance the cause of his demonic kingdom. But try as he will, Satan will not have the last word. The persecution may be fierce, but God will use it to scatter his people and through them scatter the seed of the Gospel.

Now it seems God is using the times of affluence and peace to allow us to support those who are facing persecution and hardship for their faith. There may not be anyone today like Saul of Tarsus, or Emperor Diocletian. And the golden age of the church in America seems to have passed. But God will not coerce. he wants conviction not compliance. He desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That happens as God’s people share the message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.

PS: For an interesting article on Constantine’s influence on the Christian Church, check out this website, or paste the link below into your browser.

Constantine’s Influence on the Church

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Acts 8:1-13

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. ⁵ Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. ⁶ Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. ⁷ Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

I’ve shared many times that my earliest memories have me standing on my parents’ bed getting ready for Sunday School while singing “Jesus Loves Me.” I was raised in a Christian family. I don’t have a dramatic conversion story. Somehow the Holy Spirit moved in my heart at a very young age. I was baptized at the age of eight, and it was a big deal in my family. Even my grandmothers came to witness it. There was much joy. But I didn’t feel any different. It was as though I was sealing the deal on becoming a member of the church, a Christian.

I have friends who can mark the time when they became a Christian. There was a before-Jesus life and an after-Jesus life. They speak of great peace and joy. They remember the days, the times, the people, the words that spoke to their hearts.

Dr. Dale Meyer is former president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and speaker on The Lutheran Hour radio program. Dr. Meyer was speaking at a convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and asked the question, “How many of you are life-long Lutherans?” More than 80% of the hands were raised. Then he said, bluntly, “No you’re not. We’re all converts.”

You may have been raised in a Christian home. You may – like me – not remember a time when you didn’t believe in Jesus. You may have been baptized the moment of your birth. But we’re all born sinful. We weren’t born Christian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic. We were all born sinners. We who follow Jesus are all converts. By God’s power. Because of his love. The Holy Spirit works this through the word of the Gospel.

I mention all this because there may be someone you know for whom you are praying. You pray that they would repent and believe in Jesus. You pray that they would come to faith. To that I say, keep praying! Look at Saul. He agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. He is no lover of Jesus. He is determined to bring Jesus’ followers to jail. He will squash this nascent band of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Or so he thinks. It won’t be long that his life will dramatically change. He will be converted. So keep praying for that wayward child, that troublesome coworker, that critical neighbor. And watch. It may take a while, and things might look very bad. But God hears our prayers. And the bigger they are… Well, you know how that saying ends!

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day. As a kid I really misunderstood Psalm 23. I thought, I DO want the Lord! I didn’t realize “I shall not want,” meant that I will lack nothing. Note, also how in verse 4 David no longer talks about God, but talks to God.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 53:1-3

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good.

² God looks down from heaven
    on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after God.

³ They have all fallen away;
    together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
    not even one.

Psalm 83:1-3

O God, do not keep silence;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
² For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.
³ They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against your treasured ones.

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!

² Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
³ From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

⁴ The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
⁶ who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 143:1-6

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
² Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

³ For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

⁵ I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
⁶ I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 7:1, 44-60

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” ² And Stephen said:

 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸ Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

⁴⁹ “‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
    or what is the place of my rest?
⁵⁰ Did not my hand make all these things?’

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, ⁵³ you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. ⁵⁸ Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

My great Aunt Lydia was a missionary to India. I never met her, but the story of her death has stayed with me some 60+ years after hearing it. She apparently saw heaven in her dying moments and said, “It’s so beautiful I cannot describe it!” Then she died. If you’ve ever been with someone who is dying you might be surprised to hear that anyone is lucid enough to speak so cogently at the time near death’s door. The people I’ve seen die have been nearly completely unconscious.

My Aunt Lydia and Stephen (among others, I’m sure) were conscious. Not only so, both Stephen and Aunt Lydia saw a vision of heaven and reported it to those around them. It was their witness to God’s promises and our Christian hope.

I’ve lost two sisters to an untimely death. I’ve lost my mother and father to death as well. I look forward to seeing them with all the throng of the heaven in the life of the world to come. I anticipate a grand reunion with them on the Great Last Day. But I believe that reunion will be secondary to the glorious beauty of the new heaven and new earth, and the exuberant celebration of God’s glorious grace in Jesus Christ. I anticipate seeing Jesus then. Learning what he looks like for real. Seeing him reigning at the right hand of God will bring profound joy to my heart.

We don’t really know much about the life of the world to come. We get glimpses in Revelation 21, Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom of God as a wedding banquet, Paul’s mention of being taken up to the seventh heaven (whatever that means), and this account of Stephen’s vision. We do know that Jesus has conquered death for us, and promises life in the world to come. We see all this with the eyes of faith.