ASCENSION CLOUDS... Sunday

Devotional for 6/1/14

Clouds, generally thought of or represented by white fluffy blobs, can actually display many colors especially at sunrise or sunset. Sometimes they are beautifully painted in reds, oranges, yellows or even purple.  At other times they are billows of ominous gray and black.  They actually are not solid, but only a mass of water droplets or frozen crystals.  Yet at times these misty collections spread the sun's light into a gorgeous fan of golden rays, and at other times they totally obscure the view of that ball of fire in the sky.

Our daily experiences and struggles can be a lot like clouds.  Sometimes our adventures are like beautiful reflections of vibrant colors.  When things are seemingly going well, we may be happily rejoicing in our blessings.  But when our life turns to difficulties and suffering, it can be like the thunderhead storm clouds, dark and threatening, blocking our view of God and his plans for our life.  Yet God is still there, just like the sun behind the clouds.  But God is not just passively hanging out in the heavens.  He is always at work in our lives, even if he seems absent to us. 

The disciples were a lot like us.  They had times when they were very sure about Jesus being the Savior.  Then there were other times they felt lost and despairing, as when Jesus was crucified on the cross.  But God was still with them.  Jesus returned and appeared to them on earth for another 40 days before he ascended into heaven to be with the Father.  As he was taken up into heaven, Jesus was literally hidden from their view by a cloud.  The disciples stood their, looking for him in the sky.  Jesus had told them their job was to be his witnesses, and the angels told them Jesus would return in the same way he left.  So they were to continue living by faith, even though they could no longer see Jesus. Let us also always remember that we walk by faith, not by sight.

"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.”   After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”   Acts 1:8-11 (NIV)

written by Jan Andersen