The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25
The Ascension Journey.
Selected for The III

The Ascension Journey.
(Selected for The Times Dispatch)
WHO Is gone into Heaven"-I Peter
iii:22.
1t Is a description of a journey. But
this Journey was not taken by a disem-
bodied spirit. That Body had been quick
.ened In the ricl, mans tomb. The Spirit
has come back from Paradise, and
has reanlmated the lifcless clay into a
body Of glory. The mortal had now put
on Immortality and the corruptiblc had
put on interruption. II
From the moment Of the resurrection,
earth was no more the home OF Christ.
For forty days. indeed. He tarried below,
but not in the old conditions OF constant
contact and companionship. Yet He
manifested Himself to them from time
to time by many nfallible proofs of His
identity and continuity Of being. And
now this journey was the Journey Of the
ascension. Our Lord Himself had used
the same expression several times In the
great discourse in the guest chamber;
IT go;:I take MY journey, to prepare a
place for you: If Iedepart not, the Com
forter will not come unto you: but #
golf I take Ny journeyI will send Him
unto you.'t He is on the right hand OF
God" says St Peter. 'having taken HIS
journey into Heaven
4 THAT, Journey into heaven was a men1E-.
orablo and momentous Journey. we
need to fix 1t in our hearts. We want to
realize it, not only as fact, but tomake
It our life.
The Gospel is all fact. There is not
a doctrine which Is not based on fact.
Not a doctrine which was not first fact.
God is God Of order, and His order IS
a teaching by facts. Thus n certain day
our Lord took a journey. This journey
was into heaven-"Into heaven Itself
we are told. and the heaven here spoken
of was not the sky or armament, but:
"the presence OF Cod" thus opening a
scene OF wonder and mystery, yet making
it all real and practical by the help o.
two little words-"for u.s."
Christ is not entered into the holy
places made by hands, but into heaven
itself now to appear In the presence
of God for u.s."
But, though the journey was thus mys-
terlous and inscrutable In It's mode and
destination. yet the entrance upon 1t was
a simple matter OF fact. The disciples
were, by this time, accustomed to the
conceptions Of tho resurrection Ire. u
no longer surprised them If He STOOD
among them without opening the shut
door; or If. after visit or a converse
ton. He suddenly vanished out OF their
sight. Thus much help they had already
towards the mystery OF the ascension
ST. Luke is the evangelist OF the as
cension. other sacred writer's presuppose
or assert it. He alone. in both his books,
describes 1t. He dxes the place as IN
tho ncighborhood OF Bethany. He tells
us that the Saviour was IN the act OF
blessing them, when He was parted from
them and carried up.into heaven.
THE ascension is fact in history. 1t
is not mere history; 1t is a life also.
The first thing which the ascension
says to us Is this: your home is NOT
here. There Is a city out OF sight which
hath foundations. Hero you are strang-
crs and sojourners; there Is your rest.
your citizenship and your home"
Home, even an earthly home. Is not a
mere place. but a presence. Where the
loved one Is, there Is home. And 80 1t
is with tho heavenly. When you ask.
What is heaven, and where? the reply u.s.,
Heaven Is Gods presence. and In Gods
presence Ia tho Saylour's home. When
lie ascended IT was to His Father and our
Father: to His God and to our God
When this present world is too much
with us, or that other world too little,
we have hut to throw upon each the light
OF that ascension journey. and each Will
fall naturally into place. In proportion
as we know or caro- about Jesus Christ
the ascension will have meaning for US.
and an influence and u strength. For II
brings us nearer 10 the realization Of that
home of the soul. made SO by Ills pres
ence there.
Great will be the comfort Of this ascen-
sion revelation 10 those whose lot Is
sombre or sad In this present time. THAT
we may also In heart and mind th!ther
ascend. and with Him continually dwell"
is a prayer az full OF comfort as OF adj
monitor, 1t tells ug OF a purity and
elevation to which we should aspire. and
Of blessed haven OF rest and peace from
the waves and storms of a troublesome
world.
Gone into heaven II rs q correction