Last Words: Ascension Instructions
“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.” (Acts 1:7-8)
Very significant are the last words spoken by that special person before they pass to the next world. As we remember the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and the instructions he gave, I bring you a reflection on last words. Before he died, Siddhattha Gautama Buddha said: “Behold, O monks, this is my advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation.” And heroic French King Louis XIV on his deathbed remarked to his troubled attendants: “Why are you weeping? Did you imagine that I was immortal?” Jesus Christ’s last words stand in sharp contrast to these. Before he died, he sweetly spoke of forgiveness for his tormentors, paradise to the repentant sinner on the cross, and a peaceful committing of his spirit to the Father.
Yet these would not really be Jesus’ last words – because he did not stay in the grave. Up from the grave He arose! After He arose, Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. His very last words on earth would come on the Day of Ascension when he gave the ultimate confidence and the great commissioning to his followers. While the Buddhist must work hard to gain their own salvation, Jesus Christ has done all that hard work through the cross, and believers in Him are assured of eternal life as a gift. While eternity eludes the subjects and their kings, Jesus Christ conquered death, entered eternity and assured his followers of the eternal life. Rejoice and be glad in the hope that is renewed when we remember the last words of our Lord.
In the commissioning is assured eternity: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). The disciples were concerned about and eager for the restoration of a kingdom (of Israel) that would be limited geographically and historically. Jesus pointed them to the Kingdom of God that extends to the ends of the earth and lasts forever – and we are privileged to belong to this Kingdom as believers in Jesus Christ. Don’t you wanna be a part of the Kingdom? What are those earthly interests that captivate and derail you?
Do not be blinded by short-term gains and miss the long-term benefits. Paul makes an interesting comparison: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Cor 4:16-18). May the good Lord give you grace to fix your eyes on what is eternal, heed Jesus’ ascension instructions and live as a faithful disciple.
God bless you all.