A View From the Throne
Scripture Reading — Acts 1:1-11
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns..." Psalm 96:10
Whenever we see something unusual, we tend to stare. It's not always polite, but it seems to be human nature to gawk. Necks crane at the scene of an accident or fire. People stop and stare when they notice a breathtaking panorama. So who could blame the disciples for "looking intently up into the sky" as Jesus ascended? It took a couple of angels to shake them from their stupor. They reassured the disciples that although he had gone up into heaven, he would "come back in the same way" someday. In the meantime, as Jesus had taught them earlier, he would be ruling over all things at the Father's right hand. Jesus' kingdom reign had begun. In that reality Jesus' followers still live today. Preacher and author Fleming Rutledge notes that when South Africa was struggling against apartheid, there was something peculiar about the songs the black South Africans sang. The people sang as though their liberation from racism was already won. For example, they'd sing, "We have cleansed this land," as though the dirt of apartheid had already been washed away. Some people might have called them na?ve or even foolish for singing such songs. But perhaps they understood something about the kingdom of God that we sometimes fail to see: the Lord is establishing his kingdom of justice and peace, and its coming is unstoppable.
Lord, help us live each day knowing that "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Amen.
About the author — Bob Heerspink
Dr. Robert Heerspink was director of Back to God Ministries International from 2006 until 2011, when he passed away. He had previously pastored several Christian Reformed churches. Bob loved to write and was a frequent contributor to the Today devotional.
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