I want to share one last story in the saga of Jesus' time here, although two more individual appearances happened a little later: confronting Paul and welcoming Stephen. However, Jesus had just ascended into heaven, never to be seen by everyone else until their death. In that scene, two angels appeared and gave the disciples the following message.

"and said, "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."" - Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬, ‭ESV‬‬.

Here, we find one more push to start the next set of chapters in the story of human redemption. "Why are you still standing here?" I guess the disciples were shocked, or maybe they expected the return of Jesus to be immediate. Either way, they were as useless as a UFO cult holding up signs on a skyscraper. The disciples needed a push to be Great Commission Christians in the church age.

We Christians today still need a push from time to time. We see a story in the news, are close to a horrific accident, or even hear of missionaries being kidnapped and killed, and our mission stops. I guarantee now that a pope has died, all eyes will be on the next one. If he is a globalist, religion-unifying, sin-accepting religious leader, there will be many who stop making disciples and start looking at the sky.

The message for those who stall in the mission command will be the same. "What are you doing staring at the sky, waiting for the return of Christ, without fulfilling the mission?" Jesus will return, but we have a job until He does. He will come back the same way, physically and with the clouds when the last person who will respond to the gospel message does so. Since Jesus rose as early as possible on that third day, I am convinced He will return immediately when the commission is completed.

So, keep to the instructions. Don't get sidetracked or overwhelmed by anything or anyone in the moment. Love God, love people, and make disciples. The second that last task is over, Jesus will descend, and a new set of chapters will begin! -Pastor Mike

BTW, The doctor's chart said my blood is type-A, but I think that is a type-O.