This morning I turned to the beginning of Acts. I wanted to look at after Christ’s resurrection and then His ascension into heaven. Scripture says He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Over a meal on one occasion Jesus said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you be be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
One another instance, the disciples had gathered around him asking would he at that time restore the kingdom to Israel? Jesus replied, “it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But 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.” Acts 1:6-7
As soon as He said that he was taken up before their very eyes in the clouds.
The last words he said was they would be witnesses everywhere…to the ends of the earth.
Well, what does that mean for you and me?
Be a witness.
In everything you do, testify to the greatness of God. In your talk and in your walk. He has appeared to you and shown you great things, too.
Literally just a little over a month before this, they seen their teacher, their Rabbi, their friend, their Savior…hanging on a cross and put into a tomb and now He is standing before them telling them that He is going to send them power from on high (Luke 24:49) and they would be witnesses for Him of the power of the cross.
A witness…in let’s just say a court of law…has seen an event and can tell of their own experience based on personal observation.
What do you tell about your personal experience with God when people see you, hear you or interact with you? He brought us from death into life…how can we not share it?
Jesus was challenging them to walk in the power and holiness they were going to receive…and that is our obligation, too.
We can look back at the last week and be reminded of the extremely high price He paid for you and I on that cross. His resurrection was proof of who He said He was and what God wanted to do through His people if they would just allow Him.
Jesus paid too high a price for you and I to not be a witness to the ends of the earth. He gave up everything so that we do not have to live a life that is out of alignment from everything He died to free us from in this world.
He called His disciples to be holy, through the power from on high…through the Holy Spirit. We are called to be holy.
So, what can we do today and in the days to come? Look to the heavens, where our help from comes…knowing He is coming back…and walk in holiness.
There’s no better witness than that.