Time To Serve God

Time To Serve God

IT’S TIME TO SERVE

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11

Five times in this first chapter of Acts the literal visibility of Christ’s ascension is emphasized. There is nothing figurative or symbolic about the language here.

The ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven was personal and visible. His return, the angels declare, will be in like manner.

But why the question from the angels? It seems obvious that the supernatural spectacle of Jesus rising into heaven and disappearing into a glorious cloud would leave anyone standing and gaping in wonder.

But then the angels make this sobering, encouraging announcement: Jesus is coming back! Although the disciples stood gazing in a sweet, love-struck heart sickness at the departure of Christ, they can’t stay there. Now that Jesus is gone, and because he promises to return, the earth—not the sky—must be the focus of their gaze and their labors.

The same admonition is good for us today, isn’t it? While we look by faith toward heaven, we must for now focus our labors upon earth. We have work to do, in expectation of our Saviour’s return.

Jesus is returning soon. Every eye will see him and every knee will bow to him. But the important question is how will you see him when he comes? Will you see him as ruler and judge, or as redeemer and saviour?

Prayer: Lord, help me to put my days here on earth to fruitful labor for your kingdom.

Scriptural Reading: Acts 1:1-11

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

 

Time To Serve God