Between Two Worlds
Theme: Keep an eye on the sky.
Text: Acts 1:1-11
Here’s a thought: “The growing Christian must cultivate the concentrated gaze of a person living in the future.” - Bruce Wilkinson
During my elementary and junior high school years, my classmates and I perfected the art of “teacherless classroom behaviour.” Our teacher occasionally had to leave the room for some reason, leaving behind 30 crafty, restless students just waiting for this opportunity. For the first few minutes after our teacher’s departure, the atmosphere would be subdued, with the students keeping one eye on our papers and one eye on the door – we could not be sure if the teacher just stepped out the door to the water fountain and would be back immediately or if she (or he) made the anticipated trek down the hall to the staff room. We had learned to post one particularly sneaky boy near the door, listening for the ominous footsteps of our teacher, who had left the room.
We instinctively knew which teachers we could push the envelope with and which we could not. In grade eight, there was one poor soul who worked for a brief time as a substitute teacher. We quickly realized she was oblivious to what went on beyond her desk and would not discipline unruly students. One day, she left the classroom and returned without realizing the floor was covered with spitballs.
One of our grade six teachers, Mr. Cooper, was not so easily fooled. He was sharp and seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. He was intelligent, good-looking, athletic and strict. He coached our sports teams and happened to be our vice-principal. We all looked up to him (both literally and figuratively) and did not want to disappoint him. We also knew that he would not put up with unruly classroom behaviour – whether he was in the room or not.
What made the difference in how we treated this poor, unnamed substitute and Mr. Cooper? With one, there was little respect and no relationship. With the other, there was deep admiration, a healthy fear and a bond formed over time.
People likewise relate to Jesus Christ in one of these two ways. He lived and walked among us but is now preparing a place for His people before He returns for us. Let’s turn back our calendars almost 2,000 years to 40 days after Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.
We join Luke the physician’s description of Him in Acts 1:1-11:
1 In my former book [The Gospel of Luke], Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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.” NIV
We live between:
Now and Not Yet
Now (Acts 1:1-8)
Do you think much about why you are here on earth? I would get quite a variety of responses if I were to go out on the streets and ask people, “What is your purpose in life, and what is it all about?” I might get answers like:
· “I am here to enjoy life.”
· “I am here to be productive.”
· “I am here to love my family.”
· “I don’t know.”
I wonder what responses we would get from people who identify themselves as Christians and as members of churches. Would they be much different?
Who better to look to for the answer to this question than the Son of God, who became a human for 33 years? If God were to become one of us, how would He live? He did become one of us, and here is how He lived…
Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God and demonstrated the kingdom of God. He pointed people to a new way of life. He explained how to establish a relationship with the One who made us and how this relationship can shape our perceptions of Him, ourselves, and others. He set aside all the privileges of being God Himself to become a vulnerable, fragile baby, growing to be a man full of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. He set people free from guilt, demons and sickness by simple, authoritative words and actions.
He calls His followers to do the same now while we have the opportunity. We read His instructions that He left for us in Mark 16:15-20:
15 He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. NIV
Proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ & demonstrating His power and authority should be hallmarks of His people.
By the way, what do you call a nun that is sleepwalking? A Roamin’ Catholic.
Jesus spent three and a half years speaking about and demonstrating the kingdom of heaven. By the time we get to Acts chapter one, Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead. Since His disciples did not understand what was happening, the Lord had to bring them back on track with His plan. In the 40 days that followed His resurrection, no less than 13 different appearances of Jesus to His disciples were recorded (from Barnes’ Notes). God’s plan transcended the disciples’ preoccupation with an earthly kingdom to a global movement that would ripple out from Jerusalem, transforming the hearts of men, women, boys and girls. The disciples’ confusion and fear were about to change to clarity and boldness with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Beware of the sins of the Thessalonians, some of whom quit their jobs and became busybodies while they waited for Jesus to return. They correctly understood that Jesus could come back at any moment. They drew the wrong conclusions by deciding to sit back and wait for Him. Living now requires you and me to be busy with His business while we have the opportunity.
Howard Hendricks admonished, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”
Why are we here? What is our purpose?
He will present priorities and openings to us this week. Will we give ourselves to them or answer someone else’s call?
We live between:
Now (Acts 1:1-8) and Not Yet (Acts 1:9-11)
There is coming a day when every eye will see, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now, we follow Him with eyes of faith. There is coming a day when our limited spiritual vision will see Him in His fullness. At that moment, the kingdom of heaven will completely conquer and envelop this earth's kingdoms.
The Apostle John writes in Revelation 11:15:
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” NIV
John continues in Revelation 22:1-7:
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” 7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” NIV
How would you live differently today if you knew that you had a year to live or that Jesus would return in one year? “Not yet” is a powerful motivator if we let it. I often think of the end of my life or when I will meet the Lord face to face.
Bruce Wilkinson explained, “The growing Christian must cultivate the concentrated gaze of a person living in the future.”
A new preacher had just begun his sermon. He was a little nervous, and about ten minutes into the talk, his mind went blank. He remembered what they had taught him in seminary when a situation like this would arise - repeat your last point. Often, this helps you remember what is coming next, so he thought he would try it. “Behold, I come quickly,” he said. Still, his mind was blank. He thought he would try it again. “Behold, I come quickly.” Still nothing. He tried it one more time with such force that he fell forward, knocking the pulpit to one side, tripping over a flowerpot, and falling into the lap of a little old lady in the front row. The young preacher apologized and tried to explain what happened.
“That’s all right, young man,” said the little old lady. “It was my fault. I should have gotten out of the way. You told me three times you were coming!”
The teacher’s return to our classroom brought a variety of responses. Some hurried back to their seats. Some were caught red-handed and red-faced as they completely disregarded the warnings of the others that Mr. Cooper was coming back. Some were glad that order was restored to the classroom so they could continue their work uninterrupted by wrestling and spitballs. There were consequences and rewards, to be sure.
Seeing Jesus Christ return will bring a variety of responses. Some will regret that they refused to believe or grieve their wasted time. Others will celebrate as they finally see the one they anticipated. I want to be in the second group of people, and I would love for you to be there with me!
When I was about ten years old, our church showed what I call “Christian horror movies.” These films describe what life could be like for those left behind after Jesus returned to earth for His people. Still struggling with the assurance of my eternal destiny, I occasionally got home when my family was gone without telling me where they were. Such fear struck me at these moments, as I thought I might have been left behind.
Fortunately, times have changed for me. I now look forward to Jesus Christ’s return. The difference is that I now know Him personally, and I do not dread what He might find me doing when He returns.
What will Jesus find us doing – or not doing - when He returns.
We live between:
Now and Not Yet
Keep an eye on the sky.
I stand before you not as a perfect person but as a changed person. As a boy and a young teen, I was mouthy and disrespectful, especially giving my mother and my bus driver a lot of grief. My mouth often got me into trouble with older siblings and older kids on the bus and at school. In desperate attempts to gain attention, I tried to be the class clown in grade 8. I hoped I would win the approval of my peers by being a good athlete in high school. However, my priorities and pursuits have changed dramatically through careful selection of my influencers, life-changing experiences, and daily times with the Lord and in the Bible.
The keys to change are:
Dedication
Separation
Transformation
Positive change in our lives comes from cooperating with God.
