Acts 1: 9-11

One of the things about getting up early in the morning is you get to see
some wonderful sunrises. This morning the mountain valley where we live was
ringed with clouds. As the sun came up over the mountains, it backlit the
clouds with a beautiful golden light. As it continued to rise it focused its
light in one area, with a golden starburst effect.

As I watched, the words in Acts 1: 9-11 came to mind: "After he (Jesus) said
this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their
sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when
suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they
said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has
been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have
seen him go into heaven." (NKJV)

Then I remembered the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15: "For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord."

I understand that some folks are afraid of death and afraid that Christ
might come back before they are ready. They read these words and are afraid
to think it might be today that he comes. Paul however, wrote these words to
comfort and encourage those who were true believers, truly servants, of the
living God. He said in verse 18, "Therefore comfort one another with these
words."

I read these words and am filled with wonder and anticipation! If you are
not comforted by them, maybe it's time to take a closer look at your belief
and service to the living God.

Russ Lawson