Sunday, May 16 is “Ascension Sunday.” This is the Sunday when we especially remember our Lord’s return to the glories of heaven to take His rightful seat at the right hand of God. It is described in Acts 1:6-11.
In light of that, I’d like to pose this question: How do you view Christ? What is your primary perception of Him?
Is he the meek, gentle teacher who serves as a good moral example, who makes his offer of salvation to all and died to inspire us to live right but who has no effectual power to give salvation to anyone because he does not want to violate their sovereign self-determinative free will?
OR: Is He the crucified, risen, and ascended King of kings and Lord of lords who gave His life to effectively purchase salvation for God’s chosen people, becoming the friend of sinners by redeeming them from the curse of the law, rescuing them from the dominion of darkness by crushing the serpent’s head, reconciling them to God the Father by His bloody propitiation, finalizing their justification by gloriously rising from the dead, and granting them new life by lovingly and graciously overriding their dead, cold, stubborn hearts through the sovereign regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and the imperishable seed of the Word of God; and who now sits at the right hand of God the Father at the place of power and authority, overseeing and commanding the mission of the church as He brings all his lost sheep into the family, serving as their Advocate and High Priest; and who will come one day to judge the living and the dead and before whom all people will bow and to whom all people will give an account?
Your answer is crucial because your eternal destiny hangs in the balance. How do you view Jesus?
Beloved, let’s understand: The seat at the right hand of God is no longer vacant. The throne of the universe is occupied. The coronation of the King of the kingdom of God is no longer a vague hope for the future. God has given Jesus the name above all names. The King reigns now!
The Psalmist acknowledged it in Psalm 103:19-22:
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Listen to Acts 1:10-11: “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.’”
Though the ascension was the glorious climax of Jesus’ first coming, there is a more glorious event yet to come. Paul describes it in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10. Read about it this month.
What a day of rejoicing that will be! But only for those who are His.
Pressing on with you with our eyes fixed on Jesus, our risen and ascended King,
Pastor Butch
