What Are You Looking For?

"They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

When I was a child, I can remember driving with my mom, looking out the window and wondering if the clouds I saw in the sky were big enough for Jesus to take all believers into heaven on. I wondered if He'd only need a small, puffy one, or if He'd need one of those thick, blankets that covered the whole sky. Sometimes I thought that if I stared long enough, I might be able to see His form in one of the clouds.

I can also remember going to bed the night before my family was going to Great America (a theme park north of Chicago) and asking the Lord that if He was going to return on the next day, if He'd wait until we were on our way home from the park. Yeah, on those days, it was all about me.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, I don't think the disciples had ever seen anything like that before in their lives. I can almost see the picture in my mind, of them standing, gazing towards the sky. When the angels pulled their attention from the heavens, they questioned why the group was gaping at the sky. I know why. It's obvious why. But the angels, who were completely and wholly dedicated to doing the will of God, were trying to snap the men back to attention by reminding them they had work to do.

They were to go make disciples.

They were to be witnesses in the earth...to the remotest part of the earth, to be exact.

We have this same call. We are ambassadors for Christ, foreigners in a strange land, lights in a dark world. But we also are called to watch for the signs of Jesus return. You see, the return of Christ is the great hope of the church. The longing to see Him and be with Him, knowing that one day He will put an end to the rebellion here on earth, is the energizer of the church. He is the Redeemer of all things - men and creation alike, and though we have work to do for now, we look to the day that He returns.

I can imagine that every once in a while, the disciples could be seen gazing off into the sky. Because they saw Him leave in such a spectacular fashion, I am sure their eyes were set on the things above, with a longing in their heart to see Him return. They were privileged to have Him for three years and their dedication to the point of death proves that their lives were irreversibly changed by Him.

So, my questions to you are as follows:

1. Are you busy as an ambassador for Christ? Are you a witness for Him? Who is your audience?

2. Are you looking for His return? Is His return your great hope? What exactly are you looking for?

3. If you set your mind on the things above, does this include the Great Commission and His return?

My daughter, Alex, took this picture - I wanted to share it with you. It was a pretty big cloud.

I wonder if it was big enough...