The Forgotten Mission: In the Meantime

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,

will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

On occasion, I find a bit of humor in what we read in scripture. This happens to be one of those verses. Jesus had just given the disciples their marching orders. He has told them that they are to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. He had shared with them previously that He would go away, but that he would return for them. Apparently, they though He meant in a few minutes.

When Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples are standing around staring into the sky. An angel appears to them and asks them why they are doing such a thing. It is almost as if they needed reminded that they had a job to do.

When I read this passage, I, too, am reminded that we have a job to do. We cannot be guilty of standing around gazing into the heavens waiting on Christ to return. We share in the commission that was given to the disciples. We have work to do in the same way they had work to do. So, while we keep one eye fixed on the eastern sky, longing for the return of our Savior, let us keep the other eye open for what God would have us to do in the meantime.

Honored to be your pastor,

Darrell