Looking Forward

Acts 1.4-11

                Imagine a ministry that seemed quite popular. It is a ministry that was making inroads, serving the people, getting to the heart of the matter. It was a different way of looking, a different way of doing. The people were excited and coming to listen to this preacher and his disciples. They even a few times went out on individual tours, not too different than the Billy Graham Association does today. (Have one of our representatives speak at your community revival.) For years, this was good. And then tragedy struck. The preacher was killed.

                But here is where it became weird. Months prior, the preacher was telling his disciples that this was coming. And when it came, they still were caught off guard. What would they do? They had an option, to cower in fear. They were good at that. I wonder how many replayed the previous years in their minds to see if there was any way that this could have been avoided. They also were dealing with the fear of would they be next.

                But alas, the grave only held him for a mere few hours, a few days worth. He rose. He kept appearing to the disciples. They were not as afraid as before, but Jesus had this habit of not staying around, and now he’s not as bound by his corporal limitations. They couldn’t follow. Was this to be the new norm?

                Then He told them that soon, though John baptized with water, they would be baptized with fire from the Father. Now they couldn’t understand this. The Holy Spirit, briefly mentioned as the coming Comforter. But their minds were still on the past. “Now is the time for our nation? Will we be once again the mighty nation of God?”

                You can hear the words of gentleness and patience. “No, do not worry about those times, they are not of your concern. There is something more important that you need to be about. You will receive the Holy Spirit and then you will be my witnesses, not just in Jerusalem and Judea, but also to the Samaritans and the Gentile world. Tell them what you know, make disciples baptizing and teaching them all you have learned. You will soon be ready.”

                Those were His last words to them. For upon saying them, He went home. He was lifted beyond the clouds. And while they watched, I wondered if they were longing for him to come back, to spend just a bit more time, answer a few more questions. I wonder how much gazing was really day dreaming, doubting what they were called to do. So God sent a couple of messengers, a final comfort. “Stop looking up into the clouds. He’s will return, and by the same manner in which you have seen Him leave.”

                The disciples were in a new place. They had a new mission, but not really a new mission. Jesus’ words never became irrelevant. Jesus is still coming, and that day of glory is closer now than in the past. No longer would they be entering the presence of Jesus for orders, for encouragement. No longer will Jesus be there to answer the really tough questions, questions that arise from tragedy and hurt.

                Yet from this, they will learn that there is a time to draw on the past. Sure their ministry was great. But now it will be different. Today, many have the hindsight longing. Churches all over remember the good old days. I once had a lady tell me often about the times, when her kids were my kids ages, that the church had a thriving young adult ministry. I kept asking why it ceased to continue. Our kids grew up. Some churches have been shakers and movers and now sit shaking and barely moving. We don’t need to dwell here other than to point out that this is rather depressing. Jesus encouraged the disciples to move forward. The angels came along and reminded them.

                There is a time to remember the past. Jesus’ focus on the past was to teach what has been taught. The past can also be useful for inspiring us to ideas of how to be now. If we once did a weekly fellowship, what if we were to try that again? Invite a few friends over for some good old fashion grilling. Well bad example with the nights cooling and the skeeters seemingly on the war path. But we have football. What if we were to have a fun tailgate party in the afternoon, a Christian based, clean, fun prior to the game and then retire to the living room and watch our team win. Right now, they are ranked 24 with a 3-0 record, lastly beating South Carolina: 56-0. It has been a while since I’ve seen such an impressive start with the U of A.

                Just like talking about the Wildcats can be a distraction, when we consider the time Jesus has been away, or the history that is gone away, we risk becoming distracted. Our mind ceases, our actions cease being on the mission. Consider Jesus’ words that whoever puts his hand to the plow but looks back is unfit. (Luke 9.62)

                This leaves us the option to look forward. We are to carry the mission, the message. It is not enough just to have it, but we must share it by living it out before others as well as telling them this message, that Jesus came to restore our fellowship with God.  We find this encouragement in the Word. The next encouragement comes just two verses past the last one. Luke 10.2. We need to see the world around us as being  ready to hear the good news. Then let’s consider the words to the disciples, to be witnesses in Jerusalem, closest circle, then to the rest of Judea, a bit bigger, then to Samaria, bigger still, and then to the ends of the world. How are we taking the message out to the world?  How are we impacting our family? How are we impacting Stuttgart? How are we impacting Arkansas? Do we realize that the world is ready to hear the good news from us? But we need to be open to being used by God. This is encouragement from the Word.

                There is another source to help us to move forward. Look at verse 4. There is fellowship. Too often in our American culture, we see that we can do it ourselves. Radio stations downplay the Church’s role. Yet meeting together allows us to encourage one another because our time in fellowship with one another is so minute compared to our time in the world.  Paul told the church in Corinth that is why we meet, to build one another up, to encourage. This is not the main place for people to hear the good news and make a decision. They need to hear it in their world from you and I taking time to care for them. We come here so we can pray together and encourage, build one another up.

                Finally, we are motivated to look forward by nature itself. Consider the last verse, “in the same manner you saw Jesus go, he will return.” OK there are two here. Nature serves as a reminder. Driving back from the fair, I saw the sun breaking through the clouds and whenever I see that I wonder… is it today? But let’s not just look to nature, for we have a habit of worshipping nature as well. Let us look at the promise the angels have left. Let us then consider the words of how we should be then. We should be dutiful servants who are busy looking to the work before us so that when our Master does return for us, we shall be surprised, but not unaware. That is something that the clouds remind me. Day is coming that we shall no longer be able to do the work of Him who sent me. Remember those words from John?

                This morning marks the official shift in the next chapter of our congregation. The leadership is asking for a shift in thinking, a shift to thinking forward. We are going to be doing some things that are new, and may be uncomfortable at first. The invitation time, for example, will not be open to anyone needing prayer, but to anyone wishing to share a word of encouragement.

                If you like to share such a word, I invite you to after we sing our song. Let’s stand.