Acts 1:10-11
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
I went to college later in life but some of you may remember being dropped off, the first time out of the nest, and wondering, “Now what?”. The fear may have been palpable. Jesus had walked with the disciples for three years until his ignominious death. Then, amazingly, he walked with them for another 40 days! When he ascended, the disciples may have felt like they were in their dorm room, alone. They had been commissioned to make disciples, baptize, and be his witnesses all over the world. The beautiful thing was that they would not be alone. The Holy Spirit would be there soon and all fear would be gone.
That is the comfort we can take today as we feel increasingly alone in a post-Christian America. We can feel like Jesus has left us to our own devices. That would be to disbelieve in the Scriptures that tell us he will be with us always, until the end of the age. We have no need to look up at the sky in exasperation. The two men in white robes brought comfort to them and us. Jesus is coming again to earth to pick us up from college! That should help us to knuckle down and hit the Good Book!
Dear Lord, thank you for the promises of the Bible, that you will return in victory. Help us to stay in the word and on our knees. In Jesus’ name. Amen.