Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

            Every morning as I drop off my children at school, I have some final words for them as they get out of the car. They usually sound something like, “Make good choices,” “I’ll be praying for you,” “Have a great day,” “I love you.” 

            I thought it must be fun being the teachers that help students get out of their cars in the morning because they get to hear all the “final words” parents say to their children as they send them off on their day. What is it that they want them to hear and remember as they begin their day?

            This made me think about what Jesus’ final words were before He left this earth and returned to Heaven. What did He want us to hear and to remember as we live this life on earth? He was with His disciples and He told them, “‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:8-9)

            While the disciples were still staring up into the sky, the Lord sent two messengers to speak to 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.” (Acts 1:11)

            As I read these verses, I saw three important things that Jesus reminded His disciples (and us) as He departed from this earth:

            First, He said, “I will empower you with my Spirit.” Even though they wouldn’t be able to see Jesus anymore, He was sending them His Spirit to be with them and empower them. Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit will, “remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) So even though their Teacher was leaving them, His Spirit would continue to remind them (and us) of all He had taught them. The Bible says, “this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (I John 3:24) Are you keeping in step with His Spirit (Galatians 5:25) or are you grieving His Spirit? (Ephesians 4:30)

            Second, Jesus reminds His disciples to be His witnesses throughout the world…In Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) In Matthew, He tells them to, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) He commissions them (and us) to be ambassadors of the Gospel, “as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (II Corinthians 5:20) Are you imploring others to be reconciled to God?

            And third, Jesus tells His disciples that He is coming back again. While the disciples were still watching Jesus ascend into Heaven, He sent two messengers to remind them, “He is going to return someday.” Jesus had told the disciples earlier that at the end of the age, “Men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26) Do you believe that He will return again?

            So as you ponder Jesus’ final words, remember these things: We have been given power and wisdom through His Holy Spirit; we have been given an assignment to tell others about His saving grace, and we need to be prepared for when He returns again. Are you ready?