LEARNING DAILY

 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.   The Apostle’s Creed

 

Luke tells of Jesus ascending into heaven after giving final instructions to His disciples. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:8).  It is significant to read the words while they watched because of the validity it gives to the Lord going to heaven; it was never a disputed event among the disciples.

 

The ascension marks the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus.  His Father had sent Him into the world as a baby and now the Son is returning to His Father in heaven.  He had accomplished all that He was to accomplish during His earthly ministry and the Father was well pleased with His Son.  Philippians 2:9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name”.  I believe it is the desire of all Christians to do God’s will on earth and to live according to His way; all Christians should want to hear the words of Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

 

By ascending into heaven Jesus is preparing a place for all of those who follow Him.  John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  That excites me!  I look forward to living in the place the Lord Jesus has prepared for me; it is the result or reward for staying on the narrow way to God’s kingdom.  Think about that and let it soak into your being!  A mansion or a cabin in the woods – it is being prepared right now and I don’t care which it is.

 

When the disciples were watching Jesus ascend into the cloud, “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 into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.””  His ascension gives us the pattern by which He will return to install His kingdom on earth; it will be literal and visible!  The Revelation tells of His return on a white horse returning in power and glory with the saints of heaven to put an end to the Satan and his followers.  

 

Have you spent much time considering the return of Christ?  He promised to return for His followers.  This blog is meant to be an encouragement to all who read it to live in a way that He will not find us asleep and not ready for His return.  No, each of us are to be diligently watching for Him.  You know nothing needs to happen before He returns.  Will it be today? Tomorrow? Or next year?  We don’t know.  We are told to be ready and to watch!

 

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