Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)
Today is Ascension Day, but not a lot of Christians know about or celebrate it. It’s a holy day when believers are meant to reflect on this amazing event – the moment when Jesus leaves His disciples and is lifted up to Heaven before their very eyes. It’s a miraculous occurrence and one which leaves us wondering how it happened. Some folks believe that Jesus just walked up into the clouds surrounding the mountain they were on and disappeared into the mist. Others have speculated that Jesus was actually an astronaut and that the biblical description is actually that of Christ getting into a rocket ship and blasting off into space.
However, the importance of the event is not about the how it occurred, but actually why it took place. Jesus was going back to where He came from, to be reunited with God, His Father in Heaven. To do this, He had let go of His disciples and allow them to continue His mission on Earth. Christ had completed all the tasks that God had given Him, now it was up to His followers to further His ministry. If they went back to their old ways, the Church would never exist and Christ’s work would have been worthless. However, if His followers were willing to take up the challenge, Jesus’ mission would continue. Thankfully, they chose the latter and we are now the beneficiaries of Christ’s ministry today.
The godly hope given to us by the Gospel of Jesus has been passed on from generation to generation and across all the nations on Earth. Our faith is based on the hope that Jesus has saved our souls and will come back to us to fully restore God’s goodness throughout our entire planet. We may not actually see Christ until just after the end of our lives, but this is why we have faith. God’s words, works, and ways through Jesus give us an assurance that we cannot obtain anywhere else or from anyone else. Our hope – Holding On to Personal Expectations – is fully realized in Christ, our Lord and Savior forevermore.
Point to ponder
What do I hope for in my life? What hope does Christ offer me?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our everlasting hope and the savior of our souls. We are truly thankful for Your ministry which has continued across the centuries through the faithfulness and devotion of Your servants. Help us to embrace Your mission in our own lives, so that we may also become messengers of Your Gospel and sharers of God’s love. In Your Holy Name, we hope and pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along a join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of John’s new ascension drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Ascension.
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