He Will Return

“Men of Galilee,” [two white-robed men] said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Acts 1:11

“I’LL BE BACK soon.” How often have you heard promises like that when you said good-bye to a friend or family member? “See you tomorrow.” “Catch ya later.” “I’ll be home at ten.”

We hear such phrases all the time. We say them all the time too. They roll easily off our tongues without a second thought. And yet, deep down, these kinds of words can spark a tiny flame of fear whenever we hear or say them—whenever we’re forced to admit the reality of being physically separated from someone we care about.

That’s because the risk of permanent separation is always present. There’s always a chance that the person we care about won’t be back soon. There’s always a chance our loved one won’t come home by ten—that he or she won’t come home at all. We live in a world troubled by sin and separated from God, which means we never know when that casual good-bye will end up being a final farewell.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples were probably standing there with their mouths agape. Why did he leave us, and in such an awesome way? Will he come back one day? Can we be sure he’ll return to gather us up and bring us to his heavenly Kingdom? These fears are understandable, and we may sometimes share them, but we must not give in to such doubts. Though we don’t know when it will happen, the words of Scripture ring clear: “He will return from heaven.”