May 19, 1996	Parting Words	Acts 1:1-11

Ephesians 1:15-23

Luke 24:44-53

Today is what is called "Ascension Sunday" the Sunday following the day of the Ascension, the fortieth day after the resurrection of our Lord. So, that is what our scripture lessons are about today: They center around the thoughts and words of Jesus Christ and the Disciples in the last days before he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, as the scriptures say.

The book of Acts probably gives us the most information about these last times of Christ with his disciples. In fact, the book starts out talking about it. First, we are told that in the forty days following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples on several occasions, speaking to them about the kingdom of God. Secondly, we are told that Jesus promised a special gift for those who stayed in Jerusalem for another few days. And, finally, we are told that as Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples were told to get busy doing the work of our Lord.

So, let's talk for a few moments about these things. First, we're told that Jesus spent much time with his disciples talking to them about the kingdom of God. Have you ever thought very much about this? Someone once explained to me that the kingdom of God was very much like a small balloon inside a big balloon. Have you ever seen such a thing – a small balloon inside of a big balloon? But, imagine, for a moment that everything in the big balloon is the kingdom of God. And then imagine that the smaller balloon inside the bigger balloon is the universe, including the world in which we live. Using such an analogy, it is possible to understand that the Kingdom of God includes our world and the life that we live. And it is also possible to understand that the Kingdom of God is most likely much larger and more inclusive than is possible to imagine. Indeed, and know one knows, perhaps God's kingdom is so large that it includes other balloons just like ours, each with their own worlds, and suns, and galaxies!

But the wonderful and amazing thing about it is that it is all the kingdom of God. And Jesus' teachings about loving your neighbor as yourself, and his teachings about going after the lost sheep or the lost coin, and his teachings about loving your enemy – all of them are teachings that are important for us, whether we live in this world or in the next one. All of them, the stories about forgiveness and acceptance and repentance, are important for us to begin living now, for they are the lessons that we should know for eternity, as well.

Sometimes I wonder if these lessons and teachings of Jesus will be anymore easy to live and profess in the life to come, when we pass through the outer membrane of this smaller balloon into the larger kingdom of God! Certainly, those of us who love the Lord look forward to a place of peace and forgiveness and acceptance after we die. But, how can we expect such a place after we die, unless we dedicate our lives to making the here and now such a place as that? If we continually carry around with us the turmoil of the world, and constantly separate ourselves from those who are different from us, how can we expect, how can we even expect to deserve, anything else in the life to come?

I am reminded of the motto of the Apollo 11 flight. Do you remember what it was? "We come in peace for all mankind." This motto was on the plaque which was deposited on the face of the moon. The landing was on the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong and Aldrin found a tranquil and peaceful scene on the moon. The reason for this was pretty obvious: There never had been any humans there to disturb the peace! So, indeed, I wonder what the next life is really going to be like? Perhaps our experience of heaven or hell all depends upon what kind of attitudes and practices we take there with us!

But, what else is there about the Ascension of the Lord that might teach us, today? The scriptures in Acts tell us that Jesus told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem for a few more days to wait for a special gift from God. And what would that gift be? It would be the filling of the Holy Spirit, something that Luke called "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit." The scriptures tell us that the disciples, indeed, stayed in Jerusalem for that special gift from God. In fact, they stayed there ten days, until the day of Pentecost, or fifty days after Easter.

Next Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. And, as you recall, it was upon that day that the disciples received the filling of the Holy Spirit – along with the many gifts. And the purpose of those gifts? To give life and power to the early church.

Certainly, we need that continued life and power in our church, today, don't we? Sometimes we downplay the abilities and strengths that God has given us. When we think of gifted people, we think of persons who have the ability to earn a lot of money. Or we think of persons who can sing or play an instrument well. Or we think of an artist who can paint a beautiful sunset. But, actually, God has given us all gifts that are invaluable to God's service.

I remember a trip I took to an ice skating rink, one day. There were only two skaters out on the ice. A girl in her teens was getting instruction from a former Olympic skater. As she moved around the large circular rink, the Olympic skater, a man in his thirties, skated in a smaller orbit, nearer the center, but close to her. One could see that she was not sure of herself. Once, as she was skating, her hands went up, and it was evident that she was going to fall. But, quickly her teacher came to her side and steadied her with just a touch. She went on a little more confidently while he executed a few classical figures, but keeping his eye on her every movement. Again, she became unsteady. In a flash he was by her side, his hand on her elbow, helping her to maintain her balance.

You know, as I stood there watching, I was reminded of the life to which Jesus Christ has called us. Give has given to many of us the gift of simply helping those who are younger in the Christian life or those who are in need. We live our own life, but our eyes must always be open to the needs of those around us. We must be ready with the helping hand, but we must extend that hand without show. The unsteady one will know that he or she has been helped, and that the touch at the right moment has kept him or her from falling. The world will not notice that we have helped him, but he will know and the Lord will know. This gift each of us may have, and many more gifts, besides.

But, not only were those disciples of Jesus taught about the kingdom of God; and not only were they told to expect the gifts of the Holy Spirit; but, as Jesus was ascending up into heaven, they were told to get busy.

In fact, the way it happened was almost comical, in a way. The disciples are standing there looking up while Jesus is disappearing into the clouds. And while they are standing there, amazed and wasting time, two angelic figures come out of nowhere and say, "Why are you just standing there looking into the sky? He's going to come back, some day!"

In other words, what were they saying? They were reminding the disciples that there are far more important things to do than looking up in the sky, searching for the Lord. After all, a lot of work has got to be done. The church must be built! The gospel has got to be preached in all the world! And life goes on.

And in a real sense, this is a message that we should hear in our own lives, too. While it is good to marvel and wonder in our religious experience. We can't leave our Christianity there. While it is good to praise God and have a good time with our worship services, we cannot leave our Christianity here on Sunday morning. While it is good to go to prayer meetings and Christian concerts and listen to Christian television and radio programs, we cannot leave our Christianity there. For even today the church must be built. The gospel must be preached in all the world! Life must go on. And we who are Christ's followers, Christ's disciples, are the only ones to do it.

So, get busy Christians! Don't be caught gazing too long into the sky. For the master is coming back! And in the meantime, how important it is for us to center our lives on Christ.	I am reminded of Hawthorne's story – "The Great Stone Face."

A certain people had been so well governed that when their king died they determined never to have another until they could find a man that looked and acted just like their dead king. In order to remember what he looked like they had his face carved on a huge mountainside.

For years and years a commission of men hunted through the realm for a man that could qualify, but without success. But one day they stopped at a humble cottage at the base of the Great Stone Face to rest and secure food, and there, to their surprise and great joy, they found a young man whose face was just the same as that of the king on the mountain side.

Day in and day out as this simple boy had plowed his little fields and cut his wood, he had gazed up at the wonderful profile that bespoke courage and purity and determination. And day by day, shaped by those thoughts, he became like the king on the cliff.

As we wait for our King to return, let us be shaped by his teachings about the kingdom of God. Let us be filled by the Spirit with gifts to build up the church. And let us be content to do the work of the King.

Amen.