In my last article, I spoke to my admiration for the "Back Porch Theology" podcasts hosted by Lisa Harper and Allison Allen. On November 14th episode entitled “ Cup your ears and You’ll hear the cheers," Allison mentioned the possibility of Stephen being Paul's greatest cheerleader as he persevered in his faith in Jesus Christ. She spoke to the memory of Stephen's death, possibly being a source of encouragement for Paul. A gentle reminder to Paul that all he experienced as a result of the gospel message was worth it.
When I heard this teaching, it changed how I viewed all of Paul's writings to the various European churches. Particularly 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 58; “Therefore, my brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain”.I imagine Paul remembering Stephen’s bloody and disfigured face as he wrote these words to the Corinthian church.
I can also imagine Stephen’s final words, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” (Acts chapter 7 verse 60), echoing in Paul’s ears as he wrote these words to the roman church. “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” (Romans chapter 12 verse 21). Though Stephen died, his faithfulness to Christ, displayed before Paul, was enough to leave a lasting impression.
We were all fools before we met Christ
In my second (2nd) year at University, I met a gentleman from Trinidad and Tobago. He was in his final year at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St. Augustine. However, he decided to spend his last semester in Jamaica.
The first time I saw him, I thought he was another unbeliever who thought he knew enough about Jesus and wasreluctant to converse about him. I was so wrong!
This gentleman greeted me with a big smile and a firm handshake. When we converse, his demeanor suggested that he invested in our gospel conversation. He recently became a Christian before coming to Jamaica for studies.
At the time, I was a member of the Cru-Jamaica student-led movement (Campus Karios) at the University of the West Indies. We would often share the gospel message with students on campus. He was very much a part of this while he was in Jamaica.
One day, he and I evangelized together. He was excited and eager to enter a gospel conversation with others. So, I asked him what made him keen to share the good news. He shared with me that before being saved, he mocked Christians.
He thought they were stupid for publicly displaying their hope in Jesus Christ,until he met Jesus for himself and realized how foolish he was.His excitement stemmed from wanting others to know God's grace towards them. He wanted people to be rescued from their foolishness, just as he was.
He told me that he was sorry for everything he had said to Christians. However, remembering his past mistakes helped fuel his desire to know more about Jesus and share his word. His life reminded me a little bit of Paul’s.
The power of God rescues us from the accusations of the enemy
As I learned who Paul was, his writings became even more impactful. His life indeed demonstrated the power of Christ. As he wrote, "therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come" (2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17); I can imagine him constantly rejecting the enemy’saccusations against his past transgressions.
The enemy will always try to use the memories of past transgressions to weaken our faith. However, those transgressions remind us of God's goodness in Christ. These reminders often encourage us as we move forward in Christ.
I believe that the power of God in our lives is the assurance of his presence in our hearts. It is a daily reminder that we are new creations in Him. That who we were is no longer who we are today because of Christ.
Six years have passed since the gentleman left Jamaica, and I haven't been able to meet him again. However, I hope and trust in the Holy Spirit’s ability to preserve his heart and strengthen his faith. His life in Christ can encourage many as it encouraged me.
Don't get me wrong! Moving forward from a past transgression can be challenging and, most times, take time. However, know that you are moving forward with God, whose power works in us as we move forward.
Suppose you still need to accept Jesus' gift of salvation. I encourage you to receive his gift today as we (believers) can only boast about our past mistakes providing future encouragement for us; because of Jesus's work on the cross.
Akeel Henry (West Indies) enjoys sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with all individuals. He is currently a trained Biochemist who aspires to become a physician and a pastor. If you wish to share feedback concerning his articles, his email address is ah051097@gmail.com. He can also be reached on facebook, Instagram (Akeel Henry) and on twitter (@A155_thevine).