The Ascension

 

   “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16: 19) 

   Today we commemorate Jesus’ ascension into heaven.  But the question in my mind is, “Where is heaven?”

   When we read the scripture above, we naturally think of an actual place.  We are physical beings, so we envision God and heaven as the same.  We imagine Jesus ascending to a specific place known as heaven.  But God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not physical beings, they are spirit.

   Jesus became a man, a physical person, that He might redeem mankind for their sins.  But when His mission was complete, He returned to the Father as He was in the beginning.  He is no longer bound by space or time as He allowed himself to be when He walked with His disciples.

   After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples many times in physical form.  He ate with them, spoke with them, and Thomas placed his hands in the wounds of His hands and side.  Yet the laws and restrictions of physical barriers no longer applied; He was not confined by space or time.  He came and went of His own will, even into locked rooms.  He appeared as if from nowhere and left in the same manner.

   Jesus said, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (John 14: 23).  If heaven is being in the presence of God, then heaven is already within us, because He is within us if we keep His word.  At some point I will know for certain what and where heaven is, but for now faith is what is needed.  Faith and trust in God and the promises of Christ. 

You ascended into heaven.

But You are within me.

Where heaven is I don’t know.

I look to You to lead me there. 

Amen