God calls us from the mountaintop to the mission field

Pastor Kevin Wade

We love conspiracy theories, don't we? Whether it's birds being government drones or Elvis living on a secret island somewhere, we sometimes prefer our theories over reality. We create these stories, at times, because we struggle to  accept what's actually happening.
The early disciples faced their own conspiracy problem. After Jesus died, officials claimed the apostles had stolen the body. But those 11 men knew the truth – they'd seen Jesus alive, appearing to them and others over 40 days.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

Standing on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave them final instructions: “Go to Jerusalem. Wait for the Holy Spirit. Be my witnesses.” And then, right before their eyes, He was lifted up. A cloud received Him – God's presence taking Jesus to His rightful place at the Father's right hand.

The disciples stood there, mouths open, staring into the sky. That's when two angels showed up with a gentle rebuke: “Why are you standing here looking into the sky?”

It's similar to the question the angels asked the women at the tomb: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Here's what the angels were really saying: Stop staring. He told you what to do. He told you He'd return. Now go to work.

Mountaintops aren't forever
I get it. We all love spiritual mountaintop experiences – those moments when God's presence feels so real you want to stay there forever. But that's not what we're called to do.

Here's a hard truth: Too many Christians are spiritually unfit. They feast on teaching every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, in life groups and home groups – all good things. But they never exercise that knowledge in the real world. We enter to worship, but forget to exit to serve.

If all I did was sit in my office studying Scripture without ever getting out among people, I wouldn't be fulfilling the Great Commission. The same is true for every believer.

What the early church teaches us
After the Ascension, the disciples came down from the mountain and gathered in the upper room. They didn't just sit around waiting passively. Acts 1:14 tells us they were “continually devoting themselves to prayer” with “one mind.”

Notice what that means: They weren't just agreeing it was a good idea to pray together. They were actually united in heart and purpose, saying “yes” and “amen” to the same prayers. They were preparing themselves for what God was about to do.

Three things we must do
If we're going to be the church Jesus called us to be, we need to follow the disciples' example in these ways:

• Be Focused. 
  Jesus calls us to be witnesses, not people who are always looking for signs. We’re not to obsess over the timing of his return, but on the mission he gave us until he comes back. There are people in our lives who need Jesus today. They might not be here tomorrow.

• Be With People.
  I know that's scary for the introverts among us, but here's the reality: There are people who need salvation before Jesus returns. When He comes back, it's too late for them. That person we walk past, or the neighbor we’ve never talked to, that coworker we ignore – when Jesus returns, they may be separated from God forever.

• Be United in Prayer.
  There's no effective witness without the Spirit. And the Spirit moves when we pray together, united as a church.

The Ascension isn't just theological truth – it's practical ministry. If Jesus rose from the dead, He was the perfect sacrifice for sin. If He ascended to Heaven and sits at the Father's right hand, He is the rightful King of creation. That's good news worth sharing.

We have the greatest story ever told: a perfect Savior who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and now intercedes for us at the Father's right hand. That's not a message to keep to ourselves.

That’s why Jesus call us to stop staring at the sky, wondering when he’ll come back. Instead, he calls us to come down from the mountain and be the church. We can share the hope that changed our lives with a world that desperately needs it.