Standing Ovation

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, (Acts 7:55)

The first thing that jumps out at me when I read this verse is the fact that Jesus is standing.  The one little detail screams a magnitude about our Savior’s heart towards this event.  We know from Ephesians 1:20, that when the Spirit raised Christ from the dead, it says that he “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” so, why does Stephen see Him standing? 

There may be many answers to this question, but the first one that came to mind is the scene in the courtroom when everyone is sitting around, waiting for the proceeding to start, and then the bailiff announces, “All rise.”  And in honor of the entrance of the Judge, everyone in the courtroom stands to his or her feet.  We also rise when the bride comes down the aisle at a wedding, or we are giving a “standing ovation” for someone who has just given an outstanding performance.

The fact that Stephen sees the Lord standing implies that Jesus is giving Stephen a standing ovation, a gesture of honor, as the first of many who would ultimately give their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Stephen’s willingness to die for his Savior thrilled the heart of God.

When we enter Heaven, we will see Jesus, that’s a given.  But will He be waiting for us in a sitting or standing position?  Certainly our salvation has nothing to do with works, but whether or not we please the heart of God has absolutely everything to do with what we did with what He gave us while here on earth.  If our goal is to simply make it to Heaven, then our day to day choices don’t matter.  But if our goal is to get a standing ovation from an audience of One, then we must choose, as Stephen did, to die for the cause of Christ.  And the key to how is found in the little phrase, “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Today, I will ask God to fill me with His Spirit that I might, like Stephen, choose death to self and find a life that causes Christ to jump to His feet for joy.