Yesterday, we reminded ourselves that we have the real Force, the power to do what Jesus asked us to do.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1.8, ESV)

My friend John Ed Mathison in his April 28, 2026, blog entitled To Gaze or To Go captures a lesson from what happened next. The text reads:

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?”… (Acts 1.9 – 11, NKJV)

John Ed wrote:

…The angel told them to quit gazing and start going to fulfill the mission Jesus gave them. 

It’s a lot easier to gaze into the sky than it is to go and fulfill God’s purpose.  Sky gazing is a popular pastime of the Church today.  It’s easy to sky gaze and talk about how things used to be.  It’s easier to discuss how Jesus disappeared.  It’s easier to debate some of the things that He said.  But in today’s world it’s time to stop sky gazing and start going about the mission that Jesus left for us to do!!

The book of Acts is named Acts of the Apostles because it is a record of how the apostles acted.  It’s not about how they thought positively or creatively – it is about how they acted.  They went out to witness and to serve. 

…

The time is urgent.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor.  But today I have work to do.”

Are you gazing at what Jesus did, or going to what Jesus wants done? – John Ed Mathison, April 28, 2026

A good word, John Ed. Thanks. (By the way, John Ed is a “retired” minister, still active at age 88.)

I am Jesus…I am sending you…to the Gentiles…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26.15 – 18, ESV)