And when He had spoke these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Acts 1:9
I have sat in many a courtroom and listened to many a judge deliver his or her charge to the jury. As the judge discusses the evidence that has been presented in the case, he always explains the importance of the various types of evidence. And he always stresses that eye witness accounts are always the strongest evidence. For us as Christians, eye witness accounts are critical to our acceptance of the record of Scripture concerning the Lord Jesus.
The Gospels are full of eye witness accounts concerning His life. Shepherds were witnesses to His nativity, as were Anna and Simeon witnesses to His infancy. Doctors of the law were witnesses to His brilliance as a lad of 12. The disciples, and frequently huge throngs of people, were witnesses to His messages and miracles throughout His ministry. Plenty of witnesses saw His arrest, His unjust trials, His rejection, His torture and crucifixion. Among the witnesses at His death was the apostle John, as well as a Roman centurion. His burial was not only witnessed but performed by two of the most credible men in Jerusalem. After His resurrection, He was seen of many, including more than 500 people at one time. And as our text relates, there were solid witnesses present when he returned to Glory. This is important!
The leaders of most of the world’s false religions are dead and buried. No evidence exists anywhere that they are in Heaven or are still functioning in any capacity. But we have the assurance that the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven from where He serves as our Great High Priest. The fact of His presence in Heaven is critical to our present service for Him and to our future eternity with Him.
Our present service for the Lord Jesus would be impossible with His role as our Advocate in Heaven. The devil accuses us before God every day, and, in response, the Lord Jesus presents the value of His sacrifice for us as the atonement for our sins. The Lord Jesus also serves to present our worship and offerings – so flawed and insufficient in our hands – to His Father as perfect and acceptable to God. His love and care for us are the factors that enable us to endure trials, overcome temptations, survive tragedies, and achieve victories. His presence in Heaven is precious to us.
It is also precious because of His great promise. In John 14, He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for us among Heaven’s many mansions. And from that glorious place He will come and receive us unto Himself. The glorious hope of the Christian is the return of Christ for His own and the promise that we will be forever with the Lord.
Aren’t you glad there were eye witnesses to the return of the Lord Jesus to Heaven? -Jim MacIntosh