God lives and works today.
The only question that remains is, how can
we experience him as the living God?
The answer is in the following meditation by
Basilea Schlink called Decisive Obedience.
In the seventh chapter of Acts, we read
about Stephen, whose life story parallels that of
our Lord Jesus in several ways.
Stephen, too, was dragged before the high priest
and was accused by false and lying witnesses.
At the end of his defense, when he
was about to be stoned to death, we
read that Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of
God and Jesus standing at the right hand
of God.
And he said, Behold, I see the heavens
open and the Son of Man standing at
the right hand of God.
Acts 7, 55 and 56 When I read
these words, one thought pierced my heart.
As soon as a person stands in obedience
to the commandments of God, the hatred of
Satan will be aroused and the powers of
darkness will be enraged.
However, suffering is not the end of the
story, neither for Stephen nor for us.
Whoever lives out God's commandments will experience that
heaven will open.
His heart will be lifted up to heaven
right in the midst of his suffering.
We should keep in mind three things.
First, we must obey a command of the
Lord.
The second, consequences will follow.
The powers of darkness will be infuriated.
We will have to suffer.
But third, heaven will open.
Yes, out of suffering comes glory.
Even people who may have no conception of
heaven will experience its joy and radiance in
a real way.
This principle applies for large and small matters
of daily life.
Therefore, let us learn to obey each commandment
of God, for then we are united with
him and strong in every trial.
It is true that we will have to
suffer.
The powers of darkness always rage against obedient
people.
They know that such people accomplish great things
for the kingdom of God, for his honor.
However, heaven will also be open for us.
If you wish to live in heaven, be
obedient.
And if obedience is hard for you, look
to Jesus.
One glance at him gives us strength to
take the next step of obedience.
My heart is at peace and so joyful
For all I desire he supplies I look
now for nothing but Jesus Who all of
my hopes satisfies Copy
leaflet by the same author.
Please write to God Lives and Works Today,
9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099.
That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North
40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099.
God bless you.