4-29-2024

Good Morning All,

      Acts 1:11; “They asked, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking at the sky? Jesus, who was taken from you to heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”
  “I shall return.”  As many of you know this was the phrase uttered by Gen. MacArthur as he was leaving the Philippines.  The Japanese Imperial Army was conquering the islands and the general had to evacuate or be captured.  As he left, he made this now famous statement.  His opponents saw it as false bravado; his supporters saw it as an attempt to bolster the morale of the troops and native Philippines.

     Many of the people left behind actually did find some comfort in his statement.  Even through the darkest days of the occupation by the Japanese, it gave them hope.  The people left behind kept hope because they believed that the general would keep his promise so they struggled and battled as best they could.  They believed that eventually he would return and bring with him the necessary army to drive out the Japanese.  These islanders faced many hardships while he was gone but eventually, they were liberated.  The general returned to the islands.

    Jesus made the promise to us to return.  He told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them.  He went back to His Heavenly Father to prepare a place and then to return to us.  The angels told the disciples that Jesus would return just as he left, in visible form.    We wait for the return of Jesus.  It is what we cling to even in the darkest hours; it is the hope that we hold onto.

    We look forward to Christ’s return; it is what we hope for.  Until he returns, we wait in a world which is still full of pain, still full of sorrow.  The world is still infected by sin and as a result we still have some dark times ahead.  We may face health troubles, job troubles or relationship troubles or a myriad of other events.  Yet we know that the time will soon come when Jesus returns and rescues us from this tyranny.  He will return to destroy all the evil which the devil does.  When Jesus returns, he will restore creation back to its perfect “very good” form.

    When Jesus returns as king, the creation will be restored.  The rift between heaven and earth will be fixed.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords will once again walk in the cool of the morning with man.  This is his promise; I will come again and take you to myself.  We will be liberated from the tyranny of the devil forever.  In those days and at that time we will see Jesus face to face and celebrate with him and with all those who have gone before us in faith.  We will enjoy true peace and true joy.  We will celebrate the joyous feast forever when Jesus returns.  Jesus promised to return and to take you to him.  This is a promise we can rely on.

Dear Father, you sent Jesus to pay for our sins and He promised to return to bring us to him.  Give to us the certainty of this hope, whatever befalls us keep us strong and certain of your grace.  Come Lord, Jesus, come.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret