Don't Just Stare at the Sky

Description

After giving His final commission, Jesus ascended into heaven, leaving His disciples gazing upward in awe. Today, we'll look at the angels' gentle rebuke and what it teaches us about how to properly wait for Christ's return. A parable about two brothers managing their father's estate will help us understand that waiting is not a passive, idle activity, but an active, obedient faith.

Full Episode

    "scripture": "Acts 1:9-11",

    "short_explanation": "This passage captures the breathtaking moment of the Ascension. It is the coronation of the King. Understandably, the disciples are frozen, their eyes glued to the sky where their Lord and Savior just vanished. It was a moment of awe, wonder, and perhaps a bit of uncertainty. But then, two angels appear with a pivotal question: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This wasn't a scolding for their worshipful gaze, but a loving course correction. It was a call to shift from being passive spectators to active participants. The angels immediately followed their question with a promise that anchors our hope: Jesus will return in the exact same way He left visibly and gloriously. This blessed hope of His second coming isn't meant to make us idle dreamers who stare at the sky. It's meant to be the fuel for our mission on the ground. The angels were essentially saying, 'He's coming back, so get to work!'",

    "parable": "Let me tell you about a master boat builder named Captain Eli who owned a shipyard. He had two apprentices, Sam and David, whom he had trained since they were boys. One day, Eli announced he had to sail on a long, important journey to procure a rare type of lumber. He told them, 'I will return on the tide when the new moon rises, but I cannot say which month. While I am gone, your task is to finish building The North Star, the finest ship we have ever designed. Here are the blueprints.' After the Captain's ship disappeared over the horizon, Sam would spend his days at the end of the pier, staring out at the sea. He'd check the tide charts and the lunar calendar constantly, keeping a perfect watch. 'I want to be the first to see him,' he'd say. Meanwhile, David went into the workshop. He meticulously followed the Captain's blueprints, sanding the hull, rigging the masts, and sealing the deck. He worked diligently every day, driven by the knowledge that the Captain was coming back and would want to see the ship completed. When other workers asked why he wasn't 'watching' with Sam, David would reply, 'I am. I'm watching over his instructions.' Months later, when Captain Eli's ship appeared on the horizon, Sam was there, just as he planned. But the Captain's first question was, 'Where is The North Star?' David led him to a magnificent, nearly finished vessel. The Captain embraced David, saying, 'Well done, my faithful apprentice. You understood that the best way to watch for my return was to be faithful with the work I left in your hands.'",

    "moral": "Brothers and sisters, the moral is this: we are to live in eager expectation of Christ's return. That is our blessed hope. But waiting for our Lord is not a passive activity. It is an active, obedient faith. We are not called to simply stand and stare into the heavens, but to busy ourselves with the Master's work the Great Commission that He entrusted to us. As the angels reminded the disciples, and as we are reminded today, our hope for His return should motivate our service, not paralyze it. We watch best when we work faithfully."