The Word - January 20, 2012 - THIS SAME JESUS

"Men of Galilee, who do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).

Luke gives us more detail of this awesome event in Luke 24:50-53 of his gospel. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:..." Instead of tears and sorrow at that parting moment, there was "great joy", because they knew and believed that He who said "I will come again"; meant exactly what He said.

This same Jesus, who walked on earth, who spoke such words of love and tenderness, who wept, healed the sick, raised the dead, who calmed the storm, who went to the cross to die that terrible death in our place, that same Jesus, raised from the dead, is now in the presence of God for us. He is our advocate with the Father. It is the same loving, tender, caring, mighty Lord and Savior who is there, who will come again!

The reality of this filled the disciples with joy. This knowledge gave them power to witness and walk in holiness. The reality of this great truth still fills the believing heart with joy today and leads us into the blessed faith life of fellowship with Himself. So look up in faith, child of God! He who is altogether lovely, whose perfect ways of love and grace reach to us with all the tenderness and infinite love is the same Lord Jesus Christ who informed His followers that He would come again and take them...and us to be with Himself.

The fact is, God has informed us in His Word, that His Son will come and that He will come suddenly. He may come today. He may call us home before another morning comes. And if we believe this with all our heart, we shall walk in expectation of that blessed event.

When He comes in the air and gives the shout, He will be "this same Jesus." What a joy it will be then, when all His blood-washed, redeemed people are with Him at last. It could be today!