Moses met with God on a mountaintop. David issued praises to God through his own voice and many instruments during a time of war. Job engaged the Lord God through a tense and often amazing discussion. Peter walked to Jesus on the water and witnessed his tenderhearted patience. Each of these men went on to write as the Lord inspired. And each one of these men had their own unique relationship with the Creator. Who better to describe God than those who witnessed His presence in their midst? For it is through their descriptions in His Word that we have any ability at all to know Him.
One such man, I've come to believe, is a most neglected character of Scripture for the sole reason that his story comes after a greater one. Bible readers find it easy to adore the life of Christ because He is, without second thought, the Savior of all. Thus, when He departs into the cloud of Acts 1:9, many find themselves believing this is the end of the story and all such additional writings are, in many ways, "lesser" passages of Scripture just reflecting what was and will be. But it is the story that comes soon after that I'd like us to focus. Only after Christ's departure do we soon meet a man unto whom Christ appears in his "most exalted state."
Our first introduction to this man comes at the end of a lengthy sermon by Stephen, a witness who took his opportunity in chains to speak about the failure of Israel and their rejection of Christ Jesus. At the close of his message, we find this:
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth. But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.' " Acts 7:54-56
Stephen sees the "glory of God" just as he is about to pay the highest price with his life. When he announces what he has just seen, they cry out.
"Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast [him] out of the city, and stoned [him]: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." Acts 7:57-58
This, the future apostle unto the Gentiles and steward of the age of grace, first appears at the declaration of God's glory. Two chapters later, we find this:
"And as he (Saul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' " Acts 9:3-4
A later account finds Paul sharing that this blindness was a result not just of a "light from heaven," but even more specific.
"And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus." Acts 22:11
As a man who would eventually write more than half of what we now call our New Testament, it's important to note that his earliest encounter with the Lord began at a declaration and display of God's glory. For this reason, I've chosen to make the Apostle Paul our tourguide to the top of the mountain. While we could easily venture into Solomon's wisdom or David's adoration, this particular path will begin and end with a man who spoke of no one greater than the Father of glory.
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" Ephesians 1:17