Seeing the Other Side

Thanks to my friend, the late Colin Gage for the suggestion.


Acts 7:55-60

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life is like a mountain railway
With an engineer that's brave
You must make a run successful
From the cradle to the grave

Watch the curves, the hills and tunnels
Never falter, never fail
Just keep your hand upon the throttle
And your eyes upon the rail

Blessed Savior Thou will guide us
Till we reach that blissful shore
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore

"Life's Railway to Heaven" by Charles Davis Tillman and recorded by The Amazing Rhythm Aces on "Stacked Deck"

Stephen had some real guts. He was brought before the council to speak to his beliefs and his actions. So he told them.

The council loved most of what he had to say. And why not? He was recounting the faith, their faith. He was recounting Moses, the father of the faith. He was telling them what he knew and what he knew too. I imagine the council was a little smug at this point, thinking this Stephen, this "disciple of Jesus of Nazareth" was denying this rebel rabbi and coming back to the faith, back to the fold.

That'll show those rebels!

That is until he came to the end. Stephen ended his speech saying, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

This is when their question and dismay turned to blind anger. This is when the stoning began.

"Life's Railway to Heaven" gives us the wonderful vision of the successful run of this life, a look at the path that runs to the other side. A run that from cradle to grave; through curves, hills, and tunnels; never falters nor fails. It's a life that moves straight ahead, the only direction a train can travel on a track to make any progress.

Saint Stephen knew where his path would take him. He knew where his trip on the mountain railway would lead. He was a brave engineer on the steam engine that was burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit. He knew the track would take him to his death. And he was confident that in Jesus death in this world was just a station to pass through before being with his Lord forever.

He left this world with the angels in their praise of God forevermore. And more, his prayer was that God would not hold the sin of the men who stoned him against them. Stephen had faith in repentance. Stephen had faith in the one who calls us all to repentance. By his faith he was able to see to the other side. That's the great thing about life's railway to heaven, God is willing to accept all who tie their tracks onto his and is ready to fuel their engine by the eternal Spirit of God.

Four years ago when I first wrote this entry, I was asking friends and readers to suggest songs or scripture for the "Rock and Roll Devotional" treatment. One who provided several suggestions was my friend from Kansas City, Colin Gage. Cancer took Colin about a year ago. Colin loved life and loved music. He was a beautiful man. Love and blessings to his wonderful widow Laura.