Saturday 8 September 2007

What are you looking at?

“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 1v10-11

Sometimes I like to try and put myself in the shoes (or sandals) of the Bible characters. Imagine just for a moment that you are standing there listening to Jesus give His last instructions. Your homes for your place in the earthly kingdom have just been ended and Jesus has just told you to go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and be witnesses for Jesus. Then Jesus begins to slowly rise toward heaven where He is received into a cloud and disappears.

What would you have done? My guess is that you would have done the same thing I did and the same thing that the disciples did – stood their with your mouth agape staring into heaven.

Like the disciples we too can be so caught up with the spectacular that we forget about the mundane. Two angels appeared and said, “Why are you standing here staring, He is coming back in the same way He left.” He angels were telling them to get out and do what they were told to do.

What do we do with Jesus’ instructions? At least the disciples had the excuse of seeing the spectacular occasion of Jesus’ ascension. What diverts our attention today?

No comments: