Don’t just stand there gazing up into heaven
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
After Jesus had risen from the dead and shown Himself alive to His disciples by many infallible proofs over a period of 40 days and had opened up and explained to them the Scriptures, Jesus “led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51).
In fulfillment of the Scriptures, Messiah Jesus suffered and died for our sins and rose again, and He gave commandment to His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name to all nations (cf. Luke 24:46-47). Now that He has ascended into heaven in a cloud of glory and was exalted to the right hand of God the Father that He might rule over all things and establish His everlasting kingdom, our task is not just to look up but to do as He said and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name in all the world, for soon He will come again in glory just as His disciples saw Him go (cf. Rev. 1:7).
Time is short. Many have not heard. They have not been warned of the consequences of their sin, nor have they heard of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus – how He bore our sins, took our punishment and won for us forgiveness and life eternal in heaven. Let’s not just stand here gazing up into heaven but call upon all to repent and return to the LORD God who made them and redeemed them that they too might receive mercy and forgiveness in the Son, Christ Jesus!
O dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for suffering and dying upon the cross, for our sins, and rising again. Strengthen us and enable us that we might not just stand here but call upon all to repent and look to You for mercy and forgiveness. Amen.
[Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Categories: Beliefs and Teaching, Devotions