Stephen and Kevin

I was reading from Acts 7 about the martyrdom of Stephen, after he gave testimony before the high priest, the Jewish council, and a crowd of spectators. His defense of God’s truth inflamed the crowd into a mob.

As the angry crowd determined to harm him, he looked up and “saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God”. (v.55)

And then he was stoned; put to death for his faith.

“Kevin”

For several years I worked for a medical equipment company. “Kevin” was one of our clients. He was a young man with a congenital heart problem. He had coped by living hard and fast.

Now, in his thirties, his lifestyle had taken it‘s toll, and he was in bad health physically. And spiritually.

Kevin did not look like he would have any interest in spiritual things. His arms and legs were covered with ink, much of it graphic. His language was, shall we say, coarse. He was angry. Life was running out before he was ready.

My boss was a believer. Every time Kevin came into our office, my boss would talk to him about the Lord. I made many equipment deliveries to Kevin’s home. And sometimes, he and I would get in to conversations about faith.

It came to light that he had grown up in a family of believers and in the church. And he was angry with God.

After a couple years of working with him, I went in to the office and was told “Kevin died”.

I went to the memorial service as a representative of our company, and because I felt a personal sense of loss.

And there, I heard incredible news. Only a few weeks before his death, Kevin had changed. His anger had melted away. He’d gone back to reading scripture. Whether for the first time, or whether he was the prodigal son coming home, Kevin had gotten right with his heavenly Father.

After the service, his brother related the circumstances of Kevin’s death: Kevin and his parents had been eating out together, having a good evening . All of sudden he had looked up, said “Thank you, Jesus”, and died.

I am convinced that Kevin, tattooed, hard-living, often profane Kevin, looked up in his final moment of life and saw Jesus standing, ready, to receive him Home. Just as Stephen, nearly 2000 years earlier, had seen.

Stephen died as a martyr defending God with his last breath; his face appearing like an angel’s (Acts 6:15). Kevin died having spent all but the last few weeks of his life living for himself.

In God’s sight it didn’t matter, because their lives both ended with their trusting Jesus as their Creator, Savior, and truest Lover. And in their final moments of life, He revealed Himself to both Stephen and Kevin as He welcomed them into His presence.

Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His saints. (Psalms 116:15)