DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LOOKING IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 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 disciples were standing between two epochs of time in their lives. They had spent the first part of their lives as fishermen as their occupation, and or the last three years, they had followed an itinerant preacher who turned out to be the Messiah. Now they were on the verge of starting a new direction in their lives.

As they met with Jesus for the last time in His earthly body, they were still focused on the past and Jesus' ministry. They said, "Lord, will you at this time restore Your kingdom to Israel?" Their thoughts were about this world at this time. They were looking into the rear-view mirror rather than into the future.  They were stuck in the past.  But Jesus wanted to change their vision from the past to the future.

As the watched Him go up, two angels appeared and redirected their focus to the future. The said, "He will come again." As an old codger, I find myself being like the disciples, looking to the past. Ahh, the good old days. But in reality some of the old days were not so good. They had their good times and their bad times, but they are long gone.

God has great plans for the future, and He wants us to look forward rather than in the rear-view mirror. Jesus is coming, and He has things to accomplish while we wait for His return. Looking in the rear-view mirror may be beneficial at times, but if that is the only thing I see, if that is my focus, then I will crash and burn. Looking forward will take me to new places in Jesus. I must look to Jesus, the Author – that is the backward look – and the Finisher – that is the forward look – of my faith.

Love, Dad