Have you gone to the Uproom?

Acts 1:11

“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.”

It has been many years since that day when the angels ask the question of those watching Jesus ascension into heaven, “why do you stand looking into heaven?  Those who were watching were at a place called the Mount of Olives, it is near Jerusalem, and it is a Sabbath day journey.  So what is a Sabbath day journey, the Easton's Bible Dictionary states the following: a distance of 2,000 cubits, or less than half-a-mile, the distance to which, according to Jewish tradition, it was allowable to travel on the Sabbath day without violating the law (Acts 1:12; comp. Ex. 16:29; Num. 35:5; Josh. 3:4).  But I found this of interest; “Some later rabbis invented a tradition that enabled them to get around this limitation.  For example, since they were allowed to go 1,000 yards from their home, they defined their home as anywhere their personal possessions were. They would take a bag of worthless possessions, go 1,000 yards, put down a personal possession, and say, "This is my Sabbath home; I can go another 1,000 yards." By this means, they could go anywhere they wanted.  No wonder Jesus said, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men" (Mark 7:8).” (Stanley M. Horton)

And many in the church of 2012 are living life in the same spirit as those rabbis who invented a tradition that enabled them to get around what God has commanded.  It is amazing how often people choose what part of the Bible is applicable to their lives.  I’ve heard them say, I just do not like Paul’s writings or I just cannot believe in a God who would let that happen or say that.  My mind and the Spirit that lives in me yells, you foolish people, how small of a God do you serve.  It always goes to this, if God is too busy or too small to keep His written word from error, then why would anybody trust Him? 

But getting back to those folks looking into the sky as Jesus left planet earth; they returned to Jerusalem and entered an upper room, where they were staying.  Now it is not a 12’ X 12’ room, it is a big room, and that may not be in keeping with what you envision.  There were about 120 people who gathered in that room for prayer and it was Peter who stood up and told them that the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before hand by the mouth of David concerning Judas.  Peter goes on to give us an account of what happen to Judas and then Peter quotes from the Psalm and they decide to cast lots to see who of these two men; Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias, would fill the office of Judas.

As I read this account, I wonder did they stop looking up to the Eastern Sky looking for Jesus return?  But is that the best of questions, I think not, so the real question is, are you and I watching for His soon return?  Have we gone to our upper room and that room could be anything that keeps our minds and hearts from looking and waiting for the soon return of our Lord. 

As we look for guidance from the Scriptures, should this be the attitude concerning being ready for our Lord’s soon return?  My dad often said, “ We learn nothing from history, if we did it would not be repeated.”  And Jesus said this, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”  (Matthew 24:37-39 ESV)  Jesus goes on to tell us that He is coming in an hour when we least expect Him to come.

Should we not model the example that the apostle Paul left for us, in that each day he was looking for the soon return of our Lord, and by doing so was an encourager to those who were followers of Christ.  This is a great example of the attitude we should have; “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV)

Paul wrote a letter to Titus and he referred to Titus as my true child in a common faith.  Paul is telling Titus and us to live life with a joyful expectation of our Lord’s glorious appearing.  You will find that written in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

And the apostle John has this word for each of us; “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (1 John 2:28-29 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice