I hope you all had a relaxing (and dry) weekend. Frank and I basically moved through the weekend like zombies (NO! not biting and eating people...)...but, doing a lot of vegging out in front of the TV watching the Olympics, a movie, etc. Frank had to work on Saturday and I went to Bill Eshelby's funeral celebration. We both were in church on Sunday, fellowshipping & worshipping with our church family and missed many of you!!! I know some of you were out of town, but we missed you nevertheless.
Miss Jenny Calderon's Villa Park Varsity Basketball Team won their CIF game on Saturday night (woot!) and are off to another CIF game which, if one, will lead them to the State Champsionships (way awesome!). Congratulations to Jenny and her teammates...may you go all the way to State!
Did you watch the news about the 8.8 Earthquake in Chile? Were you glued to the TV waiting (with the rest of the US) for a Tsunami to hit Hawaii? What were you thinking? What were you feeling? Did the thought cross your mind that there's been a lot of earthquakes and natural disasters lately?
Today's PW Devotional recounts the moment when the disciples watched Jesus ascend into heaven. Then, as they stood there gazing up into the clouds, two angels showed up and reminded them that Jesus went to heaven and will come back, some day, in the same way he departed.
The disciples were always questioning Jesus so I wouldn't be suprised if they had mused among themselves the question of "when?" Just like you and I do today. Even at a late lunch on Saturday, as we watched the "breaking" news of the Tsunami hitting Hawaii (and, eventually California)...Debbie and I discussed the imminent return of Jesus. We aren't supposed to practice "Headline Eschatology," meaning, we don't use the current breaking news to support end times prophecy. However, one thing we can be sure of: Jesus' return is imminent - it could happen at any time! Does that send a thrill of excitement through you or a sense of dread?
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4, the following:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
(16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
(18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.
These verses are to comfort us on several points. The Thessalonians were confused about what happens to those who died in Christ. They were also confused about who gets resurrected first, etc. Paul set the record straight. Reading these verses should give us joy and an eagerness for Christ's return.
Jesus IS coming back. It could happen at any moment. Paul reminds us to comfort one another about this very fact.
How should I lives look on a daily basis reflecting the fact Jesus could come back at any moment?
Jesus' return should give us a sense of urgency in sharing the Gospel with those around us.
Read on to see what PW has to say too.
| What Now?: He's Coming Back Posted: 28 Feb 2010 09:16 AM PST "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. Then 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.  |
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