By: Obed Pineda
Last Monday, a “once in a lifetime” event took place in the heavens that captured the attention of thousands upon thousands of spectators globally. Indeed, the total eclipse of the sun brought in an immense number of onlookers from all over the country to the regions where its path was anticipated to cross, with hopes to be able to witness this phenomenon. Media outlets were inundated with videos and images of people’s reaction to the sun being obscured by the moon, which darkened the firmament for only a few minutes. Needless to say that there were some who were in such an awe of being a part of this rare experience, that they were brought to tears because of it. There is very little doubt that the solar eclipse was an event of such magnitude, that it succeeded in convincing mankind to finally look upward, toward the heavens. Although everyone’s attention was fixed on the skies, it is a travesty that the line of sight of the vast majority fell short because their focus remained on the transitional and yet again ignored the Eternal Presence behind this magnificent event. As this author and a dear friend and brother conversed about the strong, emotional response many had to observing the eclipse unfold, he recalled another event (much greater than this one) that captivated the awe of a few “and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). The question recorded by the inspired Luke reveals that the Redeemer’s disciples, too, had a strong, emotional response to His ascension back to the Father. It is valuable to remember that when He was giving them His final instructions in the upper room, prior to His crucifixion, Christ comforted them saying, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Keep in mind also that Jesus had only walked with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection (cf. Acts 1:1-3). This has a greater significance when we bring back to memory that these same men had witnessed the brutal execution process of our Master that had left them with great sorrow (cf. Mark 14:43-16:13). Thus, the great joy and relief that they felt when they witnessed Him risen from His grave was short lived when the time came for the Lord to return to His eternal abode. The sadness of watching Jesus leave them again is palpable when we consider the response the two men had to their reaction. Holy Scripture records that the disciples were reminded that “this same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The angels (as this author infers based on the inspired Luke’s description of them, cf. Acts 1:10) were encouraging the disciples with the assurance that Jesus would return one day; they would not be kept apart forever. Curiously, these hopeful words also demonstrate that the disciples were focused on the wrong thing, like many during the solar eclipse. The two men’s exhortation was that they should be gazing into the heavens for His return, and not His departure. The apostle Paul’s enthusiasm for the Lord’s return is an example of what was being roused by the two men. The inspired apostle exclaimed, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come” (1st Corinthians 16:22)! The Aramaic word maranatha, according to Strong’s definition, speaks about the approaching judgment of God upon all of mankind (Strongs’s G3134, cf. 2nd Corinthians 5:10). Prior to his exclamation, Paul chastised those who do not love the Lord which, based on the immediate context of chapter 15, it is very probable that he is identifying those who deny the resurrection of the dead (primarily that of the Lord Jesus Christ) as such. It is vital to realize that a denial of Christ’s resurrection means that everyone who obeyed the Gospel through baptism to wash away their sins, are still in their sins (cf. 1st Corinthians 15:12-17). It is undeniable that rejecting the reality of the resurrection of the dead also denies Jesus’ promise to return for His Church one day. This, too, refutes the Final Judgment that will take place after His return, which the majority greatly fear (cf. Acts 24:25). For this reason, the bulk of mankind voluntarily avoids gazing toward the heavens or chooses not to look beyond what is in front of them. The apostle Paul warns that those who are reluctant to expect Christ to return, for them that day “so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1st Thessalonians 5:2b-3). The Bible teaches that the same is not true for those who look to the heavens, waiting expectantly for the Lord to return soon (cf. Romans 13:11-14, 1st Thessalonians 5:4-11). A major reason for this great contrast is because all who are faithful to God are convinced about the promise of “hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). The reality of this Divine promise is what every faithful and godly servant of the Lord looks forward to, echoing the apostle Paul’s triumphant proclamation, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2nd Timothy 4:8). It was this promise that the angels brought back to the minds of the disciples who gazed at the Master ascend into heaven, motivating them to “not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2nd Corinthians 4:18). It behooves us to emulate the example of God’s servant, Moses, who “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” relied on God and “by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:26-27). Although the opportunity of being able to witness the sensation of a total eclipse of the sun is wonderful, it pales in comparison to the return of the great King when we “meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17). Let us, therefore, gingerly watch the heavens for His quick return (cf. Revelation 22:20).