Read:
Jesus’ disciples watched him ascend into the sky, and they just…stood there. Staring. Maybe stunned. Maybe grieving. Maybe hoping if they watched long enough, he'd come right back down. And then two angels essentially said, “Pick your jaws off the floor. He’ll be back—and you won’t miss it.”
The return of Jesus isn’t a metaphor. It's a promise. The same Jesus who walked out of a tomb, who cooked breakfast on a beach for his friends, whose body rose to heaven—that same Jesus is coming back in a physical, visible, and unmistakably glorious way. This isn't wishful thinking; it's the anchor of our hope.
The angels' words are also marching orders: stop staring at the sky and go live. The certain return of Jesus isn't license to be passive. It’s not an excuse to twiddle our thumbs and wait for him to come back. His impending return gives us purpose right now. We know he’s coming—and that knowledge should change everything about how we live today, how we love people today, and what we're willing to risk today for the sake of bringing more people to Jesus.
Reflect: If you knew Jesus was returning in one year, what would you do differently? What might he be inviting you to start—or stop—today?