Home at Last

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11 ESV).

 

One of the wonderful characteristics about our part of the state of Texas is the vast views across the horizon. It always gives me a perspective of the greatness of our God. This is especially true along the back roads that cut through our county. Perhaps the best thing about being able to see such a distance is the appearance of how close to home we are when we cross the county line. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this area, we live nearly in the middle of the county. So, when you leave one of the surrounding counties it is still a strong thirty minute drive home. With 910 square miles within the border of Parker County only 6.6 square miles are covered in water. Everything looks closer than it really is. Our last look at the forty days between the resurrection and the ascension uses this same imagery to communicate an important truth.

 

If the cross was shocking, and the resurrection astounding, the ascension must have been incomprehensible. What must the disciples have thought? Why would Jesus rise from the grave only to depart forty days later? We can picture Jesus’ followers on that hillside, their mouths agape, staring into the cloud that had swallowed Jesus from their sight. It would take a visit from an angel to shake them out of their stupor. Surely they still had so many questions. In fact, I’m sure they must have thought that it would have been so much better if Jesus would have stayed with them to insure that things got done right. It leaves us with this nagging question: “Why did Jesus leave?”

 

Well, the answer is relatively simple. He went home. By the way, that’s where we are headed too. There is work to do as we travel our path home. Sometimes it looks a lot closer than it really is; and, at other times it looks so far away. However, the end is already determined. Just as Jesus went “home” so we will join Him (cf. John 14:1-6). That makes me so hopeful and encouraged. I hope it does the same in your life.