Editorial July 16, 2018 Issue

Evil can never separate us from God

Tony Lobl

In Christianity’s early days, one of the budding movement’s most spiritually minded men was murdered. Rage motivated the actions of a mob, and for a moment evil seemed to have triumphed over good—presenting the very inverse of Christianity’s message to the world.

Yet, something that underscored that message occurred right where evil appeared to have prevailed. Stephen lived the Christian love he had preached. His final words, infinitely gracious, were a prayer for his persecutors—spoken in a loud voice so that they’d hear—“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60).

The healing love Stephen’s life epitomized wasn’t extinguished in that moment, but magnified. His unbowed goodness in the face of evil had a lasting effect through the impact it had on the life of one of those present at Stephen’s killing. The man, Saul—one of the most ardent persecutors of Jesus’ followers—was later transformed and became the Apostle Paul, who boldly shared Christ’s message far and wide. His words and deeds remain inspiring and fruitful to this day.

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Bible Lens—July 16–22, 2018