We are about to celebrate the Ascension of Jesus; and we might remember the words recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts:
And suddenly, two men in white robes stood by them.
They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?'
Isn't that an odd question to ask? It isn't what you would expect to hear in church! "Why are you looking up toward heaven?" It is even stranger when you consider that these same angels also tell the disciples that Jesus "will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." So shouldn't we firmly fix our eyes on the last place we saw Him? What goes up must come down; Jesus went up, so He's up there, and when He comes again, it will be from on high. Right?
I have learned over the years that this is a trick question. After so many years in local church ministry, I have learned that the church is indeed the place that helps me direct my attention toward God. But I also have come to believe that this hill, the church, is often my security and comfort zone. And when I allow the church to be either of these, those angels ask me the same question: "Why are you looking up toward heaven?"
Now don't get me wrong. Heaven is wonderful. We need heaven; there's a need for holiness, beauty, purity, and radiance, all the things we hope for in our understanding of heaven. But the big problem with looking up to heaven is that you can't see the person next to you.
I believe that when Jesus comes again, He might come in the same way He came before. If you want to see Jesus:
I am excited that God has promised me heaven; sometimes, it is what I need to keep going here on Earth. But I have come to believe that if we are really looking for God, we'd better look lower. And we might find that heaven is a lot closer than we think.
This Sunday I am preaching at Covenant Church at the 11:00 service. I hope you will join me as, together we remember and celebrate the Ascension.
Breathe Peace,