What Now?: He’s Coming Back

“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1:10-11)

You almost feel bad for the disciples. They’re always playing catch-up to whatever Jesus is talking about or doing, right up to the very end. He tells them not to leave Jerusalem. He says the Holy Spirit will come on them and give them power. He says they will be his witnesses everywhere.

road_350Then he flies up into a cloud! Then some angels show up and say, “Why are you looking at that cloud?” Because Jesus just disappeared into it, that’s why!

But Jesus knew they needed more answers: So he sent these two angels to fill in the gaps. To let them know he was gone to heaven. And to let them know he’s coming back in the same way someday. To let them know the story isn’t over, yet.

What now? Use the power of the Holy Spirit to be Jesus’ witness in this world. And keep watching the sky, getting prepared, waiting for him to come back and make everything right once and for all.

Think: Do you have an expectation that Jesus could come back “in the same way” at any moment? If you did, how would that change the way you live today?

Pray: Thank God that Jesus is coming back someday. Ask him to help you to live like it could be today.

Do: Read on in Acts for the wild, amazing story of the early days of the Christian church.