Daily Devotionals

The End Week 1: Monday

Men of Galilee,” they 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 must confess today that I really do not like not knowing the end of a story. In fact, I have a habit of reading the endings of books first just so that I do not have to read the entire book uncertain of how it will turn out. I am trying to get over this habit because it makes the ending of my books quite uneventful. Can you relate? The truth is, many of us want to know the future and how things will end up in several circumstances of our lives. This desire also translates to the end times. We want to know what happens when life on earth is over, and Jesus returns. Many people have speculated and tried to understand, but the truth is, there are still a lot of unknowns. However, one thing we can be sure of is that when Jesus returns, He will take all of His followers with Him. 

Acts 1 records the moment Jesus went back to heaven after His resurrection. After speaking to His disciples, Jesus “was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him” (verse 9). While they were still looking up to heaven trying to see Jesus, “two white-robed men suddenly stood among them” (verse 10). They came with a message. They 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!” (verse 11). These two angels gave Jesus’ disciples the best news: Jesus would return one day. 

The news that Jesus is coming back one day changes everything. It means that there is hope beyond this life. It means that we will live forever with Jesus one day, which is the hope we have to cling to. This world is not our home; we have something far better to look forward to: eternal life with Jesus. His story isn’t complete yet; He is coming soon.

Moving toward action

After you read through the verses listed in the Going Deeper section below, spend time writing out a prayer to God. Thank Him for how you have confidence in your eternity with Him because of Jesus. Ask Him to help you as you trust Him with the future.

Going Deeper

 Acts 1:9-26 (NLT)

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."