They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven?
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
When I read that this morning, I was thinking, “What was the angels’ point?”
Was it merely a statement of fact?
“Jesus is coming back someday the way you saw him leave?”
Or were they trying to say something more?
At a guess, they were trying to say something more. I think they were pointing to Jesus’ own words while he was still on earth.
Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once…
Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. (Luke 12:35-36, 43)
In other words, the angels were telling the disciples, “Don’t just stand there. He’s coming back. So start doing what he’s told you to do.”
Of course, the first thing for the disciples was not actually going out and spreading the gospel. Rather they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fill them.
But even as they were waiting, they spent time together in prayer and appointed a new person to take Judas’ place.
How often do we think about the fact that our Lord is returning? And how often does that drive us to do the things he’s asked us to do?
Honestly, it’s so easy to get caught up in all I’m doing, and not think about what God wants me to be doing. To waste too much time with things that are not important.
How about you? Are you doing the things God has asked you to do?
Lord you are coming back. I don’t know when that is, but when you do, I don’t want you to see me wasting my time with things that are unimportant.
Show me what you want me to be doing. Show me who you want me to be touching. And when you do return, may you find me doing the work that you’ve given me to do. In your name I pray, amen.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 