Hi Faith Family!
Did you see the clouds today? Gorgeous! Reminded me of a Georgia O’Keefe painting. If you have ever been to the Art Institute of Chicago, it’s hard to miss one of O’Keefe’s famous cloud pictures. Entitled “Sky Above Clouds IV,” the largest painting of her career was put on canvas in 1965, when she was in her 70s. She took her first trip by airplane. From 30,000 feet, she was inspired by the extraordinary view of the clouds below her. To make the work, she stretched the huge canvas across the outside of her garage, painting from dawn until the last light of the sun dimmed at night. To reach the top of the canvas, she climbed a ladder and for each of the lower levels, she stood or sat on a special platform: a table, a box, a small Mexican chair, and finally, the floor. Here is the result:
Following her first trip into the clouds, Georgia O’Keefe was inspired and probably never looked at clouds the same way again. I wonder if the disciples did. Looking up into the sky watching Jesus ascend into heaven—how awe-inspiring that event must have been.
Today we commemorate the Ascension of our Lord. During the first 40 days after Easter, Jesus appeared to many people on many occasions, giving clear evidence and leaving no doubt that his resurrection from the dead was real. Jesus lovingly left no doubt that the devil’s plans had been destroyed; our sin had been atoned for; death no longer has any sting for us. Ascension Day was celebrated early and with great joy in the early Christian Church.
How about you? I encourage you to make full use of this opportunity. Use today for your benefit. Look up into the sky. Maybe you are up early today, and can catch some morning light off the scenery outside your window. Hopefully, you have some beautiful clouds to see. As you do, give thought to that group of disciples who had just spent the better part of 6 weeks seeing, listening to, and being encouraged with hands-on proof that Jesus, the world’s Savior is alive and would always be. Give thought to the proofs with which these disciples were blessed—these proofs changed their lives! No longer timid, but fearless even in the face of persecution; never wavering nor hesitating in their witness to the Savior who once was dead but is now alive and will always be.
It is all too easy for our gaze to give in to the gravitational pull of this world back into our day to day. The world loves for our peace left us by the Savior to become dulled. The devil relishes every time we are forgetful of the Great Commission, which Christ shared with all believers before he ascended—the massive plan to bring God’s Word and Baptism to every human being of all time. Our society ever-sinfully bent upon spiritual self-destruction by asphyxiation loves to ease us into apathy angled toward spiritual euthanasia. But today we will not allow such things.
Christ’s ascension refreshes our hope, knowing Jesus will return, just as he ascended. Give thought and attention to these words of Scripture: “He said to them: "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." After he 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."
God bless you today, dear sister, dear brother in the faith. Christ’s victory is your victory. Your sin has been atoned for, you are right with God because of Jesus. The proof that your sin bill has been “paid in full” is Easter. Ascension is having the payment noted in your account statement.
So have a great Ascension Day. And don’t forget: at least once today . . . look up into the sky.