In his new book, Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer lays out the goal of the Christian life. Followers of Jesus to be with Jesus so that we become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. If this is the measure of the Christian life, how are we doing?
The story of Stephen’s death sounds remarkably similar to the story of his Savior’s death. Stephen was talking to the Father right up until he died. He asked the Father to receive his spirit. Then he prayed for the Father to release his murderers from the penalty of their sin. Finally, he fell asleep.
I don’t know if we will die the way Jesus died. But I believe we may live the way Jesus lived. If Christ becomes our life, then death will be our gain. Comer says, “God is not just trying to get us into heaven. He is trying to get heaven into us.” Someone will say, “But I don’t want to be so heavenly-minded that I am no earthly good.” From my perspective, we are safe in that regard. Our greater danger is to be so earthly-minded that we are no heavenly good. This should concern us more.
Stephen saw Jesus as he died and then did what Jesus did. Then he fell asleep. This is the Christian picture of death. Saul who saw Stephen fall asleep, would later tell the believers in Thessalonica the truth about “falling asleep in Jesus.” Years ago, after many years of failure, missionaries broke through in a certain country with the gospel. They asked the people who had resisted their message, “How did you come to believe our message is true?” The new converts answered, “When we saw the way you died, we knew your message was true.” Perhaps Saul could never forget the way he saw Stephen die. Then Saul, who became known as Paul, also believed. He preached the same Jesus whose people he had persecuted. This is transformation.
