I was late for work for the first time. Something I never wanted or thought would happen, at least not six months after getting hired at my new job. Did I have a legitimate excuse?

My only excuse was that my three alarms did not ring. Shocking? Indeed, but it was the truth. Later on I read an article stating that similar problems arose due to the phone company’s technical issues. What a relief it was to know that I wasn’t the only one with this problem.

This did not change the fact that I was late to work. Our human nature will tend to react various ways on such occasions.

Although this is not the case for everyone, our sinful mindset would easily complain, argue, and even blame God. Such reaction is very common due to our sinful way of living.

An implication as a result of the fall of man is blaming others; such was the case with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:12-13). On the other hand, anger does not produce, show, or display the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Instead what I did was praise and thank God. Why? God is sovereign. He is in complete control and in full authority over all His creation. Even the smaller details, such as alarms not ringing, are in fact under the sovereignty of God.

For some reason, intent, and purpose, God allowed this incident to occur. God is omniscient, meaning He is all knowing. While I was still at my present, surprised by the situation, God was already in the future looking out for my best. Why did this happen? The answer may be unknown, but God allowed it. Therefore God does according to his good and perfect will. He does so for the benefit of His people and for the glory of His name. God is gracious, loving, and merciful. He deserves our praise, honor, and trust. Even when the circumstances are not what we hope them to be, God is still God. He is in control of all things past, present, and future.

Reflection

Unexpected events occur all the time. The important thing is to act wisely, give thanks, and honor God. Only in His word alone, we will find the heavenly wisdom to act according to His will. Then, His truth will bear the fruit in our lives.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

Many people who believe in God and have been walking with Lord for many years still question and are perplexed regarding his work in nature, society, everything else that pertains to life.

Some in fact don’t think he is involved in the created order at all. While people believe in the creation account—God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). Still they who hold a deism view; they believe God is not involved in creation and left it on its own.

What is deism? It is the belief that, although the universe reflects the intelligent design and power of a Creator, God’s direct and personal involvement with his creatures ceased after that moment of creation, when he established a network of orderly and regular processes, with which not even he himself will interfere (Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption, 16).

The end result of such view and mentality will be: no trust in God, fear, and even doubt that he can ever hear them and answer their requests. How can we trust such a God? There will be no sense of protection, security, and peace. No wonder we lack certainty, confidence, and boldness in God. The problem is not God. The problem is that we lack a better knowledge of the providence of God. He is the ultimate ruler, provider, and redeemer. God created the universe and is at constant work preserving it.

You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you (Nehemiah 9:6 ESV).

The most amazing thing about it is that he did not only create and just leave the scene unwatched and untaken care of. He is at constant work and is actively involved in all affairs of his created order. “God’s providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of His people” (Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, 23). In his providence of creation, God is all-powerful and all good. Another description of God’s providence may be the following:

God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine, 315).

God is so gracious, merciful, and loving that he is in constant care, working for the benefit of His purpose and His people. He is continually active and involved in manners of life. He is aware of everything that happens and occurs in the universe—even the rather small details of our every day lives. Only a caring and loving God would do such thing. He does so for the sake on his own name and glory.

One thing that I have learned is that God’s mission has a church, not the other way around. Now when see each one as part of the big picture in the mission of God, change will burst and lead to an awakening.

Such event will produce a new motivation, a new outlook, and a new global-minded mission. In order for this to happen there needs to be a new passion in the church.

A passion that burns within the soul to share the love of Jesus to all people, race, and culture. Believers have to step out of their norms, boundaries, and comfort to have an impact in today’s generation. Passion and urgency were the key ingredients that led the apostles and early church to pass on the gospel. Obviously God was at work through the Holy Spirit. The fact that forgiveness of sin and salvation had come through Jesus Christ, and was now available to all those who would believe, was the amazing news that motivated and fueled the triumph and success of the spread of Christianity.

Church today has changed in so many different ways, both for the positive and negative. Technology has improved and increased the chances and opportunities for the spread of the gospel. A lot of ministries have entered the radio and TV to broadcast weekly sermons, teachings, and conferences. Not to mentions all the different varieties of church apps that are now available on several phone companies.

We can almost say that there is no excuse for people to hear the good news. The problem is no personal and relational interaction. Even with this big advantage, there is still a lot of work to be done around the world. Still today there are an increasing number of people that claim to be atheists and agnostics that want nothing to do with God and faith.

Many countries still lack the resource of having a Bible translation in their own language. The gospel has still not reached many undeveloped and Muslim countries. A call to faith, holiness, and love is needed for the new coming generation to spread the gospel and expand the kingdom of God on earth.

Ultimately there is a desperate need for reformation, renovation, and refocus that must take place in the mission of the church. This will have a dramatic impact in today’s society with the saving message of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Why did Jesus leave the disciples when he ascended into heaven?

The prophet John baptized believers with water, which signified washing and repentance of sins. Jesus was the one who was to baptize with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11). Jesus left the disciples in order for the Holy Spirit to come as it was promised by God the Father (v. 4). Jesus previously stated,

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17 ESV).

Jesus ascended into heaven and was exalted to the right hand of the Father. He went back to the One who sent Him. Now Jesus left to prepare a place for those who put their faith and trust in Him (John 7:33-34, 14:2-3).

2. Where does mission begin and where does it end, according to v. 8?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and it all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Jesus made a very clear demand for the disciples to stay in Jerusalem. The continuation of Jesus’ mission through the Holy Spirit would begin in Jerusalem and it will spread out to the ends of the earth (v. 8). The message was to be heard by the Jews in Jerusalem, and then to the Gentiles in further areas witch included the city of Rome, the central capital of the Empire. Salvation was first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:16). Jesus had purposely planned for the Jews to hear it first, since Israel was God’s chosen people.

This was to demonstrate that God was not through and done with Israel. The apostles even ask Jesus if He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel (v. 6). Soon they would hear a message of hope by followers of Jesus, whom through the resurrection of the dead would grant an inheritance of everlasting life (1 Peter 1:3-4).

3. What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit?

The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to be a helper, a comforter, and the source of power for the disciples to carry out the gospel and be a witness of Jesus Christ, spreading the Good News of salvation to the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit was to come soon upon the disciples (v. 5). Later on the apostles are seeing firsthand the great saving power of God’s grace (2:4, 4:33). The Holy Spirit was to remember the words and teachings of Jesus to the disciples as they went in their mission to spread the gospel of Jesus.

4. What is the link between the ascension of Jesus and the mission he gives to us?

There is a clear link between the ascension of Christ and His mission to the disciples. Jesus by His resurrection has been given authority on heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Therefore mission is to be done in light of knowing that Christ has risen from the dead and has conquered sin, death, and Satan. Everything has been subjected under His feet and authority (Eph. 1:20-22). Christ will gather to himself people to save them (John 17:2). Now the church is called to step up and carry the message and “preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15) and so continue what Jesus started thousand of years ago.

The mission of God is to bring forth redemption, salvation, and restoration to all the created order. The end result of such mission will eventually lead to worship, adoration, and glory to God. The promise of Christ’s second coming should be the fuel and motivation to seek, pursue, and continue His mission (v. 11). Jesus’ second coming will usher in the new eschatological age of the kingdom of God.