Acts 7:55 “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”

Dad and I have regularly made it a habit to take evening walks. We started after we got married when we didn’t have much money and only a small apartment and have continued this activity over the years.

Recently we started out on our evening walk as the sun was setting behind the trees. By the time we completed our loop, the shadows had deepened and the air had gotten a little cooler. As we stepped it up on the final stretch, I could see the front porch lights flickering in the distance and a warm glow shining through the window. The lights of home called to me out of the darkness, and I longed for the safety and warmth that was waiting there.

For the Christian, this world we live in is not our real home. We are only strangers passing through on our way to our Father’s heavenly mansion. Though there are many enjoyable miles that we walk while living down here, there are times when life seems dark and cold. Friends fail us, bills pile up, illness threatens, pressure builds, and age catches up. These are the times when we must focus our eyes on the lights of home.

Stephen, a strong man of God, walked through one of these dark nights. Though he was full of grace and performed powerful wonders and signs that pointed people to God, some men conspired against him. They brought false witnesses to testify against him and then pronounced him guilty of heresy, eventually proceeding to stone him to death.

In this tragic time, Stephen gained solace by gazing intently into heaven. There he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. The lights of home beckoned him, and when he took his dying breath he stepped into his true home, heaven, where there is no night, no pain, and no tears.

Dad and I have walked hundreds of miles together in the past 34 years and I hope there will be many more to come. But I know that when the sun starts to set, we will both do what we have always done when a blanket of darkness has enveloped our world. We will focus our eyes on the lights of home. We will walk a little faster until we reach the open door where the light of our Lord’s presence will welcome us home.