An Upward Look
As the Book of Acts opens, Christ’s disciples are looking upward. They are watching intently as Jesus ascends into heaven. The Book of Acts goes on to say that a cloud received Jesus out of their sight (Acts 1:9). The next verse says that the disciples continued to gaze in the direction that Jesus had gone. I’m sure they were uncertain what to do next. Jesus, before departing, told His followers that the Holy Spirit would “come upon” them in the coming days. While this phrase might not mean much to many Christians today, the disciples knew exactly what it meant. When God stepped into history in the “Old Testament” days, it was often said that God’s Spirit “came upon” individuals. These individuals would be used as prophets of God.
As the disciples were gazing upward, two angels appeared to them. These angels offered an important bit of information. They said that Jesus would return in the same way that He left. The obvious, simple conclusion to this statement is that just as Jesus ascended into heaven, so He will descend and return again. But the statement by the angels points to a deeper and more motivating truth; the angels were reminding the disciples that Jesus was coming back. As a matter of fact, before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave the disciples a commission or assignment. We read Jesus’ closing mandate in Matthew 28:19-20>>"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV) We read a similar exhortation in Mark 16:15-16>> He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
While it would take ten days for Jesus’ promise to happen, in Acts 2 we see the Holy Spirit “come upon” the twelve apostles just as Jesus had promised. While Acts 2 records the supernatural working of God’s Spirit on the twelve apostles and the first preaching of the gospel message, we also see the beginning of a trend. Jesus’ followers and the newly established church had an “upward look.” Don’t miss my point - I’m not saying that the early followers of Jesus walked around looking up into the sky and constantly gazing at clouds, but that they lived with the expectation that Jesus would return soon. They were convinced that just as Jesus ascended into heaven to return to God the Father, Jesus would return from heaven and take them to their new home.
The early Christians clearly understood that they, as the church, were God’s Kingdom here on this earth. They understood that they were called to tell this world about Jesus and what He had done in redeeming lost mankind from sin and hell. They were steadfast speakers and proclaimers of Jesus. One of the nicknames given to early Christians was “The Way.” This was because they were constantly talking about the way of Jesus. Christianity swept through the first-century Roman world like a wildfire. Christians were accused of “turning the world upside-down.” While the Christians suffered much abuse and persecution, those who observed the early church marveled at them. For a people who were being treated savagely by the Romans, they had great joy. In a world that was petty, cruel and broken, the church had something that their detractors desperately wanted. The peace, the fulfillment, the self-sacrificing lives Christians displayed won over countless millions of lives.
We live in a world, in a time, that is strikingly similar to first-century Rome. There is runaway sin and debauchery. Civilization and society are crumbling. Evil seems to be winning, and hope is nowhere to be found. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, God’s light still shines. Just as the early Christians had a “upward look” and mindset, we would do well to adopt that as well. We would be wise to remember that Jesus is returning. We need to stand strong on the conviction that the church is God’s Kingdom on this earth. The best thing we can do for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors is to look to Jesus. God’s Spirit still changes hearts. The blood of Jesus still forgives sin. The grace and mercy of God is still shown to those who are willing to accept it. Keep looking up!