Let us look at two pictures from the pages of Scripture.
Stephen “looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus” (Acts 7:5555But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (Acts 7:55)). He was willing “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)).
Judas was a man who had been in closest company with the Lord Jesus for three years. He had seen all His wondrous works and had heard His gracious words. Yet he turned his back upon Him who was the “Light of the world”; he went out from His presence, out into the night. Controlled by Satan, led captive by him at his will, Judas went to his doom.
Look on the other picture. Alone, in the midst of an angry crowd yelling for his death, Stephen stands undismayed.
Full of the Holy Spirit, he looks up. Heaven opens, and in the center of all the glory he sees a man, the man Christ Jesus, standing on the right hand of God. Lost to everything but that wonderful vision, he does not focus on the cruel stones which his murderers hurl upon him.
What can they do? They can set his happy spirit free to rise to its own place - where Jesus is. Stephen goes in - into the light, into the glory - to be with Jesus. Happy release!
Which pathway is yours? Which end is yours? Heaven - or hell?
There is no other option!