The Flight (The Seven Last Words before Christ’s Ascension) – April 27-28, 2025 (187/365)

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ever hear of the saying, “you either die a hero or live long enough to be the villain“? Well I don’t really believe in that, as much as I don’t believe in our local “Mahirap mamatay ang masamang damo“

Upon turning 41, however, I have realized something: You live long enough in this reality and you find out that there are more things that are fleeting, and much less that are absolute.

The older you get, the more you realize things that you thought were permanent were only seasons.

Two things from this: First, don’t wait too long to realize and appreciate things for what they are. Second, don’t be sad it ended; Be thankful to the Lord that it happened.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to changeJames 1:16-17

²² The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.Proverbs 10:22

One other thing I realized is blessings (1) come from the Lord, and (2) He adds no sorrow to them.

And through the years, the best blessings to be had are not things, but relationships.

Everything else you can get on your own, but relationships are given and received.

Issue is we’re the ones who add the sorrow, but however relationships start and/or end, it’s constant the He works all things for the good of those who love Him..

So, yeah, I thank God for reaching this age, and if you happen to be reading this far, well, know that I thank God for you too. Whether you’re actually intentionally reading, or just going through this out of plain boredom (or, what, compliance?), I could say that no matter how strong of a bond we have, or how quick and fleeting we met and exchanged contacts for the heck of it – I AM blessed, because I have been blessed by you.

Thank you. Said it before, I’ll say it again: I love you all, very big.

Like dinosaur.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.Proverbs 27:9

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.Proverbs 23:22

To love another person is to see the face of God.

Thank you for your greetings, Aces.

Recall:

‘Mary.’ – The Resurrected Christ knows us by name.
‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ – Scripture has been fulfilled. Christ was raised, and entered into His glory.
‘Peace be with you.’ – Whether He calls us by name or not, He gives us peace.
‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ – We have been blessed, therefore we believe though we do not see.
‘Come and have breakfast.’ – Christ takes care of us completely.
“Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” – It is finished. Love one another.
‘You follow me!’ – Focus on Christ.

7 Last Words, 7 First Words, 7 Last Words?

7 Last Words before the Ascension of Christ, that is.

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. Mark 16:15-20

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 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 1:3-11

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18)

⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.Romans 14:9

I used to just think that Christ’s resurrection came naturally after His death (24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.Acts 2:24)… but in Romans 14:9 we read that Christ’s Lordship – that is, His glorification and exaltation – came hand in hand with His resurrection. In other words, after His death, He was made Lord and therefore resurrected – also, He was resurrected, and therefore was made Lord.

Here’s another picture of this authority, as prophesied by Daniel: 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.Daniel 7:13-14

Christ’s finished work was as much a demonstration of God’s glory, as it was His grace.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19)

Discipleship; How to disciple? Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all that He commanded you.

Tech nowadays helps us to reach literal nations versus individuals and communities.

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15)

Evangelism: Believe and baptize. Signs of those who believe? Sure, but don’t look at the signs, but the Spirit behind the signs – the Spirit is the true Guarantee of our salvation.

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Local Communities (Jerusalem), National (Judea and Samaria), International (To the end of the earth). Again, recognizing the value of tech to enhance our reach.