Jan | 15 | How long is it 'till we get there now Dad?!”

Key Word:- FIGHT

Title:- “How long is it 'till we get there now Dad?!”

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.


Tradition said that when leaving Egypt, in the camp of the Israelites, no part was more than 2000 paces from the tabernacle. Jewish teachers set this distance as a ‘lawful’ Sabbath day’s journey. It's not very long is it and wouldn't take a great deal of time to walk? The message of this is wonderfully clear then : ‘on the day of rest, never exceed the distance permitted from the manifest presence of God.’ Interestingly, this was also the distance of the suburbs of Jerusalem where the Levites (priests) resided. Well so what? Well, you might also want to know that from Mount Olivet Jesus ascended into heaven, and that was just ‘a Sabbath day’s journey’ from the then centre of service and worship. Interesting maybe, but what has that to do with both the here and the now? What lesson is there here for us today?

C.S. Lewis said "NOW is the point where time touches eternity.” I like that! The Scriptures say:

NOW is the day of Salvation.
NOW we have returned to the shepherd.
NOW we have obtained mercy.
NOW are we the people of God.
NOW the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.
NOW, beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the greater.
NOW little children abide in Him.

NOW, you see, counts! And NOW you are here. Yesterday has gone, and tomorrow is a gift yet to be given. NOW however, exists today as a present reality, so my dear friends, take it and make it yours forever by giving it to Jesus! At the beginning of this year, know that one day dear friends, one day, the NOW of our Jerusalem, the NOW of our centre of service and worship will be the THEN which we have increasingly longed after.

The truth is that our very own Olivet experience, our very own entrance into heaven, into the eternal Sabbath day rest, planned for the people of God, is in reality, just 2000 paces away along this linear time line we are NOW travelling. I suppose that in the great scheme of things, we are always just a few steps away from the NOW of earth to the THEN of heaven.

Of any Christian it may be said, that perhaps their next step will be the 2000th of their own personal pilgrimage from their Jerusalem to their Mount of Olives, from their testing, their troubles, their tribulations, into their very own triumph in Jesus! Remember that and seize this NOW, remember that and seize this HERE, remember that and seize this DAY by SIEZING GOD!

Listen:- Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

Pray:- Lord, give me an eternal vision and a straight road home to You. Help me live each day as though it were both my first and my last! In Your great name I ask for this right now, amen.