Acts 1:6-14
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The other week one of my fellow Pastors asked me if I was doing anything
special for ascension day, I showed my ignorance and made out as if I would be
preaching a sermon, thinking that ascension day would fall on a Sunday. He
clarified his position saying that his church wasn't doing anything and that we
probably should, as a church, have a bigger emphasise on the ascension of our
Lord.
I used my simple maths and realised that 40 days after Easter Sunday
could not possibly be another Sunday; but his words gave me my topic. Our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ promised his twelve disciples that they would receive
power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth. and then, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud
took him from their sight.
Just as we say in the
creed, and we say it in the creed because it is here in the bible, Jesus the
son of God ascended into heaven and as we read later in acts (10:42) ascended to judge
the living and the dead.
Jesus has ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the
Father, but in a special way though he is in heaven he can be in all places at
all times. He is no longer humbled to live as we live but has reclaimed his all
powerful nature that he had set aside. Jesus has ascended into heaven but is
with us always to the very end of the age. Now this is true and wonderful news,
but it is not the main drive of the text today rather it is saying something
that I had forgotten. I know that Jesus had ascended but I had forgotten that, Jesus
is coming back.
Now I know that Jesus will return and I have confidence in his words,
but in my daily life I have forgotten that Jesus will return to earth in the
same way the disciples saw him leave. I had taken it for granted that it has
been two thousand years since he promised to return and that surely it would be
another few hundred more. I thought that surely I will die and be raised to
eternal life before Jesus comes again.
How my life will change if I think on this more regularly I have no
idea, But I do know that God's word is powerful and meditating on his word
brings great joy and wisdom.
This life here is only temporary, there is a sense of urgency to our
lives here on earth, this is our only chance to tell other people about the
love that Jesus Christ has for them. Our life here on earth is our time to tell
others about the wondrous forgiveness of sins that is ours through the washing
of baptism and the body and blood of Christ.
This is our time, by our words and actions to live the Christian life in
the presence of all people, living holy lives, and humbling ourselves, seeking
forgiveness when we fail. Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven, but he is
coming back.
It will be like a thief in the night, and God in his wisdom has kept the
day and the time from us, “It is not
for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own
authority." We do not know when Jesus will return but we know that he
will.
Now this return is not
something that we should be fearful of, we have been set free from sin and guilt,
in our judgment we will not be standing on the works that we have done, but by
what God has done in us. We are baptised, washed and made children of God, he
has put his seal on us and forgiven all our sins. We do not rely on our own
works but in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. We have already been
judged, judged guilty by our works and set free by Christ's. We do not fear
this second coming of Jesus.
Jesus will return, and for
us here who have called and are calling on his name, to all baptised Christians,
Jesus will come back in grace and love. We have no idea when this will happen. and
so as fellow Christians and for myself I urge you to live out your lives as
godly sacrifices to God, waiting for the coming again of his son, not because
you have to, but because you can.
Jesus is coming back, and
at that time we will no longer be able to work, and while our works mean
nothing for our salvation, they are still pleasing to God and beneficial for
our lives and those around us. I urge you to have in the back of your mind,
Jesus could come back this afternoon, and he would be happy to hear that I
worked faithfully at my job today.
I urge you as forgiven Christians
to ponder Christ's return and the eternal blessings that will become reality on
that day. I urge you, with patience and wisdom, to live your lives as examples
of Christ, so that people see the love you have for others and seek Christ
because of his work in you. I urge you to love your family and your friends,
enjoying God's good creation, knocking back a beverage as you watch the sunset
over a hard day's work in the field, office or home. I urge you, when you are
suffering to remember that this pain will end, Christ will return and put an
end to pain and suffering. I urge you to enjoy God's blessings that come
through hearing his word and receiving his sacraments enjoying also the peace
that God gives and the rest that he calls us all to take for his glory and our
benefit.
Jesus will return, and
through baptism and his Holy meal, he has made you ready. He will return in
glory to take all God's children, those living and those who have died, take us
all back with him, to our final peaceful heavenly home.
The peace of God which
passes all understanding keep your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus amen.
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