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NASB | 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; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; |
Subject: Did Stephen see the Father? |
Bible Note: Dear Cheri, The "little box" kind of deity is, of course, another idol (see post #167827). John Calvin said that we are expert idol craftsmen from birth. I guess today we'd call it being an "idol factory." When we really desire to behold the Lord God Almighty, the high places must be torn down. However, to really enter into His presence is not a pleasant experience. If we do not experience fear and awe, we are in the presence of something else, but certainly not God. His incredible holiness burns right through us, revealing our helpless vile state like nothing else (Isaiah 6:5). We want to cry out, "Go away!" (Like Peter in Luke 5:8). We begin to understand this experience of Peter, as well as Gideon (Judges 6:22), Manoah (Judges 13:22), Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:16), and others. Nevertheless -- and talk about ambivalence! -- once we see Him, everything else becomes just so much worthless junk. Nothing is so beautiful as He. Nothing is more desirable than He. Nothing else will ever satisfy us. In Him, Doc |