The Ascension to Light the Path

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: The Ascension to Light the Path

The Ascension to Light the Path

Scripture:

The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (said he) by my mouth. For John indeed baptized with water: but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days hence.

They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel? But he said to them: It is not for you to know the time or moments, which the Father has put in his own power: But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. Who also said: You men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven. (Acts 1:1-11)

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your heart enlightened that you may know what the hope is of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us, who believe according to the operation of the might of his power, which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places. Above all principality and power and virtue and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And he has subjected all things under his feet and has made him head over all the church, which is his body and the fullness of him who is filled all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23)

And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing him they adored: but some doubted. And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (Matthew 29:16-20)

Reflection:

We think in ways of what we see and the immediate needs of our circumstance. We think in ways of the days of comfort, when we controlled all challenge and when all was perceived as well for us. We think in ways which are less than what He sees and what He has created. His ways are much greater than ours. His intentions are for all the nations and generations of the children of His creation.

As we progress through our daily journey, we make choices which reveal our direction. We often exist in the moment and fail to consider the consequences of what we do. We are blessed that we may be forgiven our failings, that we may repent; but time is fleeting and none of us know the minute or the hour where we will be called to leave this world or the moment which will come where He will ask of us, in whom do we believe and to what depths have we demonstrated our faith?

Only a few were witness to His ascension and therefore stood in the presence of events which they could not doubt. They were charged with sharing to the nations and the generations. They were blessed with the Holy Spirit to guide them and strengthen them so they might spread His blessings so that all the nations and all the generations might know the greatness and glory of the Lord. And so they were told, in the way they saw Him rise into heaven, so shall He be seen returning; but the day and the hour was intentionally withheld.

For children, time appears to pass slowly, but as we grow in years, time appears to pass more quickly. We wait as children with impatience, yet, we do not consider His existence has always been, so His time is not our time; for what is an expanse to us is a brief moment to Him, for His existence is the eternity of time. As He has planned the rising and setting of the sun, He has planned His promise to us. In His rising to heaven, He has shown us the path is there.

And so, the Word was laid before us, but the evil one seeks to sow doubt amongst the people. If we seek the truth, we may seek to trace from whom does the Word flow, but how are we to know whether what was witnessed has been accurately passed to the generations? Is it possible that what was witnessed by those who walked with Him has somehow been transformed hundreds or even thousands of years later? What are we to believe with so many who preach, so many who parse translations and so many who offer what they say is the truth? There is but one truth, but the evil one paves many false paths.

It matters not to Satan what path we follow, or how slight we miss the mark of His teaching, as long as we are diverted from the path of the One who created us. The evil one does not care how we are drawn away from the commandments of love, only that we replace the calling to selfless love with the desires of selfishness and hate. It matters not to the fallen angel if we quote scripture, for did he not also quote scripture as he sought to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:6)? Was it not the Son of Man who spoke the depth of truth to the devil (Matthew 4:3-10)?

Though we may face so many paths of temptation and deception, He will not deny us the truth if we but seek it. Through prayer, we may reflect upon the Word and seek the message He has for us. Through prayer, we may receive within our hearts the blessing of hope only He can bring. If we are troubled by the exhortations of others, then, we should ask for the Holy Spirit to guide our heart so that we may be guided to the truth. Every heart which seeks Him in prayer shall receive the blessing of His salvation, for He knows our every need, but through prayer, we let Him know the depth of our love and desire to keep His commandments. He will settle the troubled heart with the enlightenment of His truth. Through prayer, we may ask that our eyes may be opened so that we are no longer blinded by the world.

He commissioned His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. He commissioned them to teach all nations to observe His commandments, of which He had explained that all law and prophecy are built upon the commandments to love God and one another (Matthew 22:36-40). The guide, then, from which to discern truth, is love. The power which conquered death was not the power of hate, but the power of love. Hate can only tear and rend the soul. It is the path to death and the destruction of all who follow it; but love is the healing light, the light of the truth, the light which opens the heart to His Word, the light of the path to His kingdom.

We may test every word of those who seek to lead us, for if the word which is spoken does not lead us to act with caring love and the protection of the innocent and defenseless, then, it is a path of which to be wary. It is for this reason we are called upon to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-4 Cool

, for while we are called to reject sin, we are still called to love the sinner; for are we also not sinners; was it not the sinner that He poured out His blood in forgiveness and salvation? Blessed are the nations who heed His Word and follow His ways, for love shall be their care and their blessing. Though evil may cause great conflict and struggle amongst peoples, He will not abandon those who seek Him. As He promised to remain with those He charged to spread the Word to the nations, so shall He remain with those who receive the Word and who keep it within their hearts.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier