Thursday, November 9, 2017
Acts 1:11 Men of Galilee,why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
MAYBE TODAY
There are some days on the Christian calendar that we celebrate for by looking in two directions: back and forward. Jesus' Resurrection is one. He was raised from death as He promised-- and we shall be too. Jesus' Ascension is another. We remember how He led His disciples out to the vicinity of Bethany, lifted up his hands and blessed them, and how while he was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:50). We also remember the words of the angel at Jesus' Ascension and the promise of His visible Return in glory at the end of time.
Jesus' Return is a promise He will most assuredly keep. One proof of that is in the way in which He left-- with His arms upraised in blessing. When we remember the way Jesus ascended we know He wants us never to forget that, though unseen, He is continually blessing His disciples, His believers. And how long will Jesus keep on blessing His believing disciples? What did He Himself say?
"…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3).
These two promises seem to be contradictory. How can Jesus be with each of us here (though unseen), and at the same time be preparing an eternal place for each of us elsewhere? Instead of trying to answer that question, it is far better for us to focus on these two promises of our Lord: to be with us unseen ... until we see Him at His Return on the clouds.
Look again at the ascending Savior and see the ultimate proof that Jesus can and does keep His every promise. Look at His upraised arms. See His hands, and the print of the nails!
