And that's the way it is

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:54-56).

Walter Cronkite was CBS's news anchor from 1962 to 1981. He ended his news program by saying, "And that's the way it is."

Of course, it was impossible for Walter Cronkite to sum up a day's news in his 15-minute news program. Even the news he presented was an interpretation of what had taken place rather than an objective accounting of it.

Not so with Stephen. While he was being martyred, Stephen caught a glimpse of the way it truly is. The way it always is. Even though we can't see it.

“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

This was not a unique vision, a look into heaven that was specially staged for the dying Stephen. This was a look at eternal reality. Moment by moment Stephen's Savior and ours is ruling the universe at the right hand of his Father. Not even the injustices of life escape his oversight and control. There is nothing in life that he is not able to use to further his gracious plans.

The same Jesus whom Stephen accompanied through his three-year ministry continually rules the universe from his throne in heaven. The same Jesus who healed and helped, who preached and taught, who suffered and died, who rose from the dead and ascended to heaven reigns, "exalted… to the highest place and [honored with] the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).

That same Jesus is in that position when stones crash down on us. In his position of power, he graciously keeps his promise "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28). So even when we can’t fathom why pain and unfairness and loss are allowed to crush us, he deserves our exaltation.

“The Son of Man [is] standing at the right hand of God.”

That is reality. That is objective truth. Always. For Stephen. For us. For every Christian.

"That's the way it is."