But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. - Acts 7:55-60
I envy Stephen a little bit here. Not the dying part. But the having the sensitivity to the presence of heaven. I know that heaven is overlaid upon my normal, mundane life. I also know that the renewed life that God gives could allow us to see the parallel part of the universe that is going on right next to me. But I think it requires a readjustment of my mind, one which is not easy to achieve. The clamor of daily life which I have lived for over 50 years overwhelms the glimmer of heaven that is all around. As Elizabeth Browning wrote: "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries" Stephen saw the glory of God. I wish I could too.
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