“HOW WILL YOU FINISH?”
(Acts 5:17-8:40)
“They 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.” – Acts 7:58
We don’t know the day or the way we will die. Will you die peacefully in your sleep? Will it be fast in a car crash? Will it be slow from a sickness like cancer? We simply don’t know. God keeps that day a secret.
But there is one very important thing we can know and choose: how we’ll respond when that day comes.
In our Scripture, we read about Stephen, the first follower of Jesus to die for his faith. He was giving a powerful speech about Jesus, but the people got so angry they dragged him out of the city to kill him by throwing stones. This was a brutal, painful way to die.
When you read the rest of the chapter, you see how Stephen responded. He didn’t scream in anger or beg for his life. Instead, he did two amazing things:
- He prayed for Jesus to receive his spirit.
- He forgave the people who were killing him.
Stephen died with peace and courage because his life was already given to Jesus. He was ready for heaven, and his mind was fixed on God, not on his pain or his enemies.
Our Final Answer
The way we die shows what we truly believe. Since we cannot choose how we die, we must choose how we live right now. When death comes, whether it’s quiet or sudden, we want our last action to be one of faith, peace, and love, just like Stephen.
We can have that peace only by living close to Jesus every day. When we trust Him completely, the question is no longer “How will I die?” The question becomes: “Will I die believing and trusting in Jesus?” When the answer to that is “Yes,” then we know we will die well, no matter the way it happens.
Simple Truth:
We may not know how we’ll die, but we can know our final response will be one of peace and faith if we live for Jesus every day.
Reflections:
- If you had to die today, would your last actions show peace and forgiveness like Stephen’s? Why or why not?
- How can you live more closely to Jesus today so that you are ready for Him tomorrow?
Application:
- Ask God to help you live a life of courage and forgiveness right now, so you are ready for anything.
- Make peace with anyone you need to forgive, just as Stephen forgave his killers.
- Trust Jesus with your life today and with your death tomorrow.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that my life here on earth will end one day, but I don’t know when or how. Thank You that the way I die is not as important as the life I have in You. Help me to live every day with the love and peace that Stephen showed. Thank You for my eternal life, which is safe with You. Amen.
About our Author
Albert Rosado was born in the faith after his mother gave her life to Christ while expecting. At the tender age of 12, he made a personal commitment to Christ, which has been the cornerstone of his spiritual journey. Over the past 30 years, Albert has dedicated his life to serving God and others through various ministries such as Sunday School Education, Royal Rangers Ministries, Student Ministries and Church Deacon…
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