On Sunday I was to be away on vacation, but, really at the last minute, we weren't able to go away for the week. So, on Monday, I began looking at Acts 1 and this sermon came to be. It was a pleasant surprise to me and I want to share a bit of it with you...
On Tuesday of this past week I had lunch with two pastors in town. As we chatted I asked, What big plans do you have this summer?
One said, Well, as you know, in July we are expecting our second little girl. (Their first is three years old.) The other pastor replied, Well now, that should be easy, you already have the girl thing down, right?
His reply was – I’m not sure any of us ever have that parenting thing down. (Can I get an, Amen?!)
When we were expecting Daniel we read, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Guide to Your Baby’s First Year, The Father’s Guide for the Baby’s First Year, etc… We went to childbirth classes, nursing classes and caring for your baby classes. We paid attention in the hospital and allowed the nurses to show us everything we were supposed to do.
But, when they said, It’s time to go home!, we thought, You aren’t going to let us take this baby home are you? We just aren’t ready!
Well, we were…but we weren’t. We are…but we aren’t. But, by the Grace of God, here we are. I remember my cousin saying, after his son, Will, was born, there is never a moment – 24 hours a day – where either the washer or dryer is going and lights are on somewhere in the house. Often all three are going on at the same time.
When should I call? I said. His response – Anytime, we are always up now.
You know, there are some things in life you only learn by experience. Some journeys are such that you must learn as you go. Step by step. Steps of faith.
The book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke. And here, in the first verses of Acts we pick up where the last verses of Luke have taken us – with some repetition.
Jesus has risen from the dead and he’s come back to the earth for forty days and during this time he has revealed himself to the disciples, he has given them instructions and commands and he has tried to prepare them for his departure.
Notice that he’s given them the instructions, Stay here in
Of course, as I look at the disciples and try to sympathize with what they are going through, I realize, if they are anything like I am, they want to go back to
Notice here – this is not what discipleship is about. At least not as far as Jesus is concerned. It is as if Jesus says to them, I am not calling you to a place where you will be most at ease…I am calling you to a place where you will be most effective witnesses for me. (Thanks to the comments of Alexander Maclaren)
Notice Jesus is never sentimental or nostalgic. Jesus always calls us to press forward from where we are now not to a place we have been before but to a place where he is calling us and a place that he is preparing for us.
This instance in Scripture has been called the Ascension, for Jesus ascends into Heaven where he will rule forever. And Luke records that he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
As Jesus ascended, they must have tarried. They looked intently into the sky. They reflected upon Jesus’ life and ministry. They were focused. They marveled at what they were seeing. They noticed what had happened and they studied what it meant in those moments.
The brief portion of the text I want us to focus upon is verse eleven, and it is so very telling. Spoken by, I assume, the angels:
"Men of
Why do you stand here looking into the sky? What did this mean? What does it mean for you and me?
Jesus’ call is into a life of deep conviction, strong compassion, endless grace and eternal mercy. Jesus’ call is to follow with our lives. Remember Jesus’ instructions in the Sermon on the Mount. They were not theoretical but practical. He advised his followers on anger and murder, on contempt and lust, on family and marriage, on bullying and living with enemies.
You and I live in a specific place and we’ve been given a specific life that involves certain family members and neighbors. You have specific talents and gifts, so do I. You have been given opportunities to serve the Lord today. They may not be there tomorrow.
As Eleanor Roosevelt so aptly said: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that’s why they call it the present.
And, you know, this present is created by God wrapped up by Jesus Christ himself and delivered to you by the Holy Spirit.
And the angels are saying to you right now, can you hear them? …Why do you stand here looking into the sky?
I believe – I have been convicted lately - that one of the greatest things the church need is more theologians. What do I mean by that? Well, I believe we don’t give our faith enough thought. We don’t marvel enough at God.
In seminary my favorite professor, David Garland, said, My problem with students is that they spend too much time out there (pointing to the world) and not enough time in there (pointing to the library.)
Well, what does serious reflection do for a person? What will daily prayer and contemplation with the Lord accomplish? What will a commitment to studying the Scriptures in whole and specifically the Gospels and the life of Christ do for you?
You will be prepared to return the life you’ve been given to God. You will be able to present your lives as a living Sacrifices to God – this is what God wants from you. This is our job.
How we walk away from this place is of central importance to God. God wants your whole life – or as Eugene Peterson says in the Message translation of the Bible – God wants … your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – He wants the whole thing as an offering. This is the best thing you can do for God.
So – what does this all mean? Well, step one is this. You have to decide and only you can decide. You must commit to following Jesus Christ wherever he leads. This may mean there are some behaviors in your life that will have to change – absolutely. This may mean some priorities and what you do with your time and your money and your giftedness will have to be refocused.
This will mean that you will do your tasks; you will live your life and follow through with your responsibilities – you will do this – no longer for yourself. You will live starting right now for God. If you have never made this commitment or if you need to re-focus or re-commit to this commitment again, then use this time…right now. I will be here to receive you if you come. The Lord – right now – is listening to your prayers.
Or – as the angels ask – will you stand there and look at the sky? Amen.
If you have feedback or comments about this blog, please email me at ande.myers@gmail.com.
