Moment of Meditation: He's Coming Back (Acts 1:11)

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into Heaven."
(Acts 1:11)

He's Coming Back

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The words of the angels on top of the Mount of Olives ring true still today. They are words of hope. The disciples had just asked, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (v6). They wanted a bit of comfort so that they could be sure that they had not just wasted the last three-plus years of their lives following Jesus.

What a silly thing to say, we tend to think today. Many say, "If I were living back with the disciples, I would definitely believe Jesus." Don't be so sure. We have twenty centuries of history and tradition forming the basis of our faith. The disciples lived in the moment. Ask anyone who grew up during the Depression or World War II. Many during that time thought that things would turn around very quickly. But they lagged on for years. Living in the moment doesn't provide much hope. In fact, it generally tends to confuse us when things don't add up.

That's why the angels were sent with their message--to give the disciples hope. They wanted to see Jesus' kingdom come. They were told they would have to wait, but that He would return. In fact, He would return in the same way He left--on a cloud. Throughout the centuries, Christians have believed--and rightly so--that they were living in the last times. That they were living during the time that Revelation spoke about. How true that is. We are certainly living in the last times today, but so were the disciples who descended the Mount of Olives after Jesus was taken into Heaven. The last times have lasted for two thousand years and will continue until the Last Day. And through all these days, we still have the same promise and hope: Jesus is coming back! Amen.