Ascended to the Right Hand
This Thursday marks one of the most important events in our faith, which is also one of the most ignored and neglected. Tomorrow marks 40 days from the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Morning and commemorates the conclusion of His physical walk on earth. Ascension Day is the annual reminder that Christ did not die again after rising from the dead; He did not simply turn into vapor and disappear, and He did not wander off into foreign lands. No, the Resurrected Christ ascended to the right hand of God the Father, where He rules and reigns over creation and intercedes on our behalf. Jesus Christ is fulfilling the purpose of humanity as the one true human who is also the One True God.
Think about the significance of this and what is lost when we forget or ignore it. First, Christ is King! His ascension to the throne of the universe is not some future event. He already has dominion and power and authority over all things, and as the Apostle Paul teaches us, if we are in Christ, we have been seated with Him in the heavenly places. When we aren’t taught this, or we forget it, we live defeated lives waiting for something more before we obey Christ’s command to “make disciples.” Second, sin has no power over us, and when we face temptation, we have an intercessor who can keep us from succumbing to sin. Too many Christian believers walk around in fear and discouragement because they do not realize Christ’s active intercession on their behalf, and His continued work of atonement reconciling them to the Father. Third, because Christ has ascended, we know that He will return in the same way – physically, triumphant, and in glory. The final words have not been written on any of our lives, even those whose bodies have died. The final word belongs to God, and it is one of victory – now and for eternity.