WHILE THEY BEHELD!

WHILE THEY BEHELD!

Acts 1:7-11

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

          The message of the angels was similar to that at the garden tomb. The angels seem almost amused with our reaction to things which are common among the spirits. “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) Now we hear “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” What they had seen was now gone. What they were looking at was sky. It is hard to fathom the emotions of the moment and one wonders, had the angels not intervened, if the disciples would not still be standing there.

          They nearly forgot their mission and that power, dunamis or dynamite power, would soon be given to them. This power would be both the desire and the ability to do the will and work of God! What would it be like to do the will of God without reluctance? What would it be like to do the work of God without weakness?  

          The angels announced that He would return “in like manner.” While we are watching and seeing nothing He will come. That day can’t be long in tarrying if His coming is conditioned on the wickedness and weariness of this world. The time between the ascension and the advent of the Holy Spirit was filled with fellowship and eager anticipation. So it should be now while we wait for His return. Let us fellowship together in eager anticipation.

Dear Lord, there is a longing in our heart that is hard to define. We look for you with eager anticipation. Come quickly. AMEN