The Death of my 44 year old friend Steven Ganner

I first met Steven Ganner at a small group from our church that met on Wednesdays. His love for people and his passion for Jesus greatly uplifted me. It was hard for me to imagine someone at his age who had a challenging day with 100 high school students being so euphoric at 7 pm in the evening.
Later, he blessed our small group with a “field trip” to the back yard of the house where we were meeting. He showed all of us how to use our smart phones to the see the location of certain stars. Next, he wanted to have us look at the horizon at a certain time for the space station that would soon appear.
“Can you see the difference between the light there for it is moving across the sky?” We couldn’t see it at first, but with focus and giving attention, we could see what he was seeing.
Spiritually, I compare Steven to his namesake in Scripture.
He could see furious pain coming at him.
He could see the glory of God.
He could see heaven.
He could see Jesus.
He could see Jesus standing.
He could see Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
He could say what he was seeing.
He could leave this life with a clean slate toward everyone and praying for God’s blessing on them.

There is this interesting text about the “Stephen” in Scripture.
Acts 7 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
During the last phone conversation I had with Steven he said some things that were powerfully helpful to me. “I am praying for more awareness of anything in my heart that needs to be purified so I can clearly see God and His purposes for me. I am still hoping and praying for a miracle cure, but in my heart I feel I am win/win either way.” His choice seemed to be to stay here and get back to his work with his beloved students, but if there was another plan he was ready for whatever might come.
He helped me to see what I could not see on that dark evening in the back yard. He helped me to see many things that I could not see. Even now his example is helping me to learn the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words.
Matthew 5. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
It is my prayer that for the rest of my life I will keep my eyes clear to see what he was seeing.
Some of what Steven saw I must admit I don’t want to see. That is not up to me, but up to God’s plan for my life which has not been revealed to me. However, some of what Steven saw I do want to see.
I do want to see Jesus standing in heaven as I am finishing my own race.
I do want to have this attitude that I will ask God to not lay anything to the charge of anyone through His grace and mercy. Without God’s grace and mercy, there is no way for me to enter heaven. With His grace and mercy, I believe as my brother Steven did, I’m a child of God and I’m win/win either way.

God,
Help us to see things as You see them.
To see peace instead of fury.
To see beauty in the difficult things handled with grace.
To see heaven as our ultimate healing.
To see Jesus standing and giving the applause of a race finished well.
To keep a clean slate and to forgive everyone of everything as God has forgiven us as His children.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.