Live to Count

Recently, I’ve had to re-read the book A Holy Ambition by John Piper and also anchor a group discussion centered around this book with some members of my faith family. It has been quite the experience for me. I especially remember reading the book the first time and telling myself that I simply have no excuse as a believer.

One of the fears I harbored in my earlier days of being a Christian was the fear of wasting my life. I feared living out life in a way that did not matter, a way that was not significant to God and His kingdom.

This was important to me because I came to the simple conclusion that to live in a way that was not Kingdom-centred and kingdom-driven – to live a way that doesn’t strike at the heart of God’s purpose for me in Him – would amount to a wasted life. I thank God that it’s been ten years ago and some change, and God has acted in a definite way to deal with that concern.

[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

[58] 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.

[59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Acts 7:57-59 (KJV)

These verses came into the focus of my meditations recently, and the part that caught my attention was this: ‘…and the witnesses laid their clothes at a young man’s feet… ’.

This scenario is more than worth its weight in gold. Let’s observe a few things.

FIRST; There was a central goal. It was to stone Stephen. More precisely, to stone him to death. Everyone was clear about this, and everyone was committed to this.

Notice the word ‘witnesses’ (beginning from the 13th verse of chapter 6). These men were false witnesses. However, because it was on account of their witness that Stephen was summoned before the council in the first place, the council – having declared death for Stephen – would require the witnesses to be the first to stone Stephen, in keeping with the Law. And this they did concertedly.

SECOND; This act of stoning required putting off their garments. Their garments would be an impediment to their movements, an unnecessary encumbrance. You see, they probably didn’t leave their homes that morning planning that they would stone someone. Their outfits were not particularly appropriate for the act, so perhaps in an attempt to also preserve them, they needed to put them off. This also speaks to us. If we intend be effective and efficient witnesses of Christ in our generation, we must be adept and prompt to put off weights. We must readily cast aside everything that will not allow us to do that which we are called to do.

The third reason is more pertinent.

THIRD; In putting of their garments and laying it at Saul’s feet, I believe they were making a statement of commitment. They were saying without equivocation that they were in this business and were fully committed to seeing it through to the very end.

It was a way of saying, as a matter of fact, that they wanted to be reckoned as the very people that carried out the act. This way, if anyone claimed to have joined them, to verify, we would simply need to ask; did you cast your cloth as his feet? For those who believe that which they are doing is consistent with the agenda of God, can we ask you where you have laid the proof of your commitment, your allegiance? Have you casted your lot with the Lord God and His Christ?

FOURTH; They dropped their garments at his feet (I could go on and on about this part). To my mind, this speaks of submission. They didn’t randomly drop their clothes on the floor next to them, effective as that would have been to give them physical freedom to stone Stephen. However, that would not have sufficed. They needed to do it under supervision and from a place of submission, and we can safely assume that this was reflected in the act of placing their garment at his feet.

This is the sum of what we are saying: As far as God is concerned, there is that which counts. It is that the supremacy of His name and his Glory be put on display for all nations to see and be brought under the influence of. This is what counts.

[4] I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

[6] I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

John 17:4,6 (KJV)

For our lives to count, we must be as these men were. We must place our lives before God. We must place our lives in total surrender and submission at His feet. To not be involved in this great agenda of God is to waste our lives. Not only that, but to attempt go ahead and be involved on our own terms without the submission of our lives to Him is to completely miss the point.

Live to count. Make your life count for God. May the Lord crystallize His agenda upon our hearts and may we have a compelling passion to be a part of it, submitting our lives at His feet, for His name and glory.

Amen.

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