Scripture
Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Observation
Paul had opened up this second letter to the Church in Thessalonica to encourage those who were being persecuted for their faith with these words, “7And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,…10When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.” (1 Thess 1:7,10). In the first letter Paul urged the believers to “encourage each other and build each other up” with the truth that Jesus is coming back back for his people. In other words, they were thinking about Christ’s return all the time. They were being persecuted so clearly comfort in this world was not an option. They were being persecuted for their faith but their faith kept their eyes on their true prize and their heavenly home. What would change in our Christian walk if we lived every day as if it was this was the day Jesus was coming back?
Application
Most Christians I know don’t know today is Ascension Day! I didn’t know it either until I looked it up. Now, I’m on a mission to bring the importance of Christ's Ascension front and center to our Christian faith as it clearly was to the early Church. We celebrate the Incarnation (Christmas), the Crucifixion (Good Friday), and the Resurrection (Easter Sunday), but often ignore what happened 40 Days later (Lk. 24, Acts 1). Without Christ's Ascension we wouldn't have The Great Commission (Mt. 28) or The Birth of The Church Through The Holy Spirit (Acts 2). This was the official ending of Christ's earthly ministry and the beginning of His ministry through you and I on the earth! Nate Palmer put it this way, "...without an Ascension every book past John wouldn’t exist and our union with Christ stops at an earthly resurrection.” The Ascension of Christ is directly tied to the Return of Christ in our theology. Maybe, because we don’t think about His return to Heaven to prepare a place for us we don’t spend time thinking about His return to bring us to our true home. When Jesus ascended into Heaven the disciples stood there staring into the sky. They were startled out of their stupor by two angels, “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:9-11). In other words, there’s something for us to do before He returns. Let’s stop staring, start moving, stop forgetting, start praying and staying expectant of His soon return. It should be top of mind so we prioritize our time in light of eternity. In his book, “Why Revival Tarries”, Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “Oh that believers would become eternity-conscious! If we could live every moment of every day under the eye of God, if we did every act in the light of the judgment seat—then we would have a Holy Ghost revival that would shake this earth and that, in no time at all, would liberate millions of precious souls.”
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for not keeping my eyes on Your return. As I sit here around a warm fire pit drinking my hot coffee I realize the comforts of this world have made me think this my actual home. I have prioritized my daily convenience over the cost of discipleship. Jesus, You are coming back for us and I want to be ready. I don’t want to wait for persecution to get my priorities right. Thank You for reminding me through Your word and through the name of this coffee house- Ascend.
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