And when [Jesus] had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?  This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:9-11)

The disciples were happy with the way things were.

They’d had a good thing going following Jesus as He went around teaching the crowds, healing the sick, and training them to follow in His footsteps.  It was a comfortable place to be.  But with His death and resurrection, a new day was dawning and a greater future was on the way.

When angels appeared after Jesus ascended, their question of “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” was not just about the angle of the disciples’ eyes.  It was about the attitude of their hearts.  The time had come for them to leave behind the way things were and embrace the new thing Jesus was going to do.

Perhaps the same is true for you.

Maybe you had a good thing going but your circumstances are changing.  Maybe you’re uncertain about the future and just wish things could go back to the way they were.  Maybe you feel like Jesus has left you because you don’t understand what’s going on.

For most of us, it’s easier to reminisce about the past than to refocus for the future.  It’s hard to let go of the “good ole’ days” in favor of good new days to come.  But, if you’re in Christ, then He has something even better for you waiting around the bend!

He doesn’t leave His people alone in their hour of need; He lifts us up by His Spirit!  He doesn’t abandon us to failure; He anoints us for a future where greater things in Him are on the way!

So, may you trust Him today, no matter what your situation looks like.  The next season may not look exactly as you’d like it to, but if you trust and follow where He leads, you can have hope because of this truth: Jesus makes your future greater than your past.

-Pastor Phillip

AUDIO VERSION (Click here to subscribe to the daily podcast on iTunes.)