"Christ's Ascension Affects Our Life"

Sermon on Matthew 16:24-27

May 13, 1999

Saint Mark's, Watertown, WI

Pastor Karl Walther

Introduction: Description of Our Lives, If Christ Had Not Ascended

As we sang in the ascension psalm: God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Amen.

Dear fellow Christians-- whose lives, both eternal and earthly, Christ's ascension now affects:

Today is Ascension Day. It's one of the lesser known and lesser noticed festivals of the church year. In fact, I've been associated with a number of churches that don't even hold services on this day. Our church, of course, does. And I'm glad we do so-- because just imagine if Christ had not ascended....

If Christ had not ascended to heaven, we Christ-ians would not be heading to heaven either. Where he is, we must be. And if he's not there, we're not going there either. So, if Christ had not ascended to heaven, earthly life would be our entire life. And consider the implications of that....

If Christ had not ascended, only the top student would ever really "win"; every other student would really "lose"-- because nothing would exist beyond earthly success and its comparisons. And even that one top student who "wins" would simply eventually die.

If Christ had not ascended, only the best parent would ever really "win"; every other one would really "lose"-- because nothing would exist beyond earthly success and its comparisons. And even that one top parent with the one best family who "wins" would simply eventually die.

If Christ had not ascended, only the richest worker would ever really "win"; every other worker would really "lose"-- because nothing would exist beyond earthly success and its comparisons. And even that one top worker who "wins" would simply eventually die.

And if Christ had not ascended, only the healthiest retiree would every really "win"; every other retiree would really "lose"-- because nothing would exist beyond earthly success and its comparisons. Even that one healthiest retiree would simply eventually die.

Theme: Christ's Ascension Affects Our Life

Coming at it from that angle, it's easy to agree that: * CHRIST'S ASCENSION AFFECTS OUR LIFE. In fact, (1) CHRIST'S ASCENSION AFFECTS OUR EARTHLY LIFE, and (2) CHRIST'S ASCENSION AFFECTS OUR ETERNAL LIFE.

Part One: Christ's Ascension Affects Every Christian's Eternal Life

Let me prove to you, first of all, that Christ's ascension affects your eternal life. And to do so, I'd like you to recall that second section of Scripture we read earlier. It was the one from Ephesians chapter two, which reads this way (and consider especially what this says about your unity with Christ)....

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Did you hear it there? Four times -- no less! -- that section of the Bible has us Christ-ians united with Christ. And that's why Christ's ascension is so important to us. We are united with Christ, and if Christ has ascended to heaven, so must we.

Application One: Christ's Ascension Affects Your Eternal Life

Now, think about that...!

There's coming a day, whether you are an "A" student or an "F" student-- there's coming a day when your grades really won't matter anymore. There's coming a day when you, my fellow Christian, will ascend to be with Christ. And then, as the Bible says: You will know fully, even as you are fully known.

There's coming a day, parents, whether you are an excellent parent or an awful parent-- there's coming a day when your expertise really won't matter anymore. There's coming a day when you, my fellow Christian, will ascend to be with Christ. And then, as the Bible says: We will be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and Father-- in full.

There's coming a day, workers, whether you are exceedingly wealthy or nearly starving-- there's coming a day when the amount in your bank account won't really matter anymore. On that day you will ascend to be with Christ. And then, as the Bible says: We will share in Christ's power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.

And there's coming a day, retirees, whether you are rather healthy or in pretty serious pain-- there's coming a day very soon when the state of your health really won't matter anymore. On that day you will ascend to be with Christ. And then, as the Bible says: There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Part Two: Christ's Ascension Affects Every Christian's Earthly Life

You see: Christ's Ascension Affects Your Life-- especially eternally. However, that's not to say that Christ's ascension doesn't affect your earthly life at all. In fact, to prove that -- to prove that Christ's ascension affects your earthly life -- I'd like you to recall that final section of Scripture we read earlier. It was from Matthew chapter sixteen -- actually a good year before Christ's suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. And this is really our sermon text.

It goes this way: Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me -- if anyone wants to ascend to heaven along with me -- he must, first of all, deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." So: Christ's ascension, which Christians share, makes it incumbent upon them to say "no" to themselves, "no" to their own comfort. Christians must say "yes" to what Christ wants, "yes" even if Christ lays on them suffering like that of the cross itself for being a Christian.

Going on, Jesus says: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Do you see what that means? It means that Christ's ascension, which Christians share-- Christ's ascension makes it incumbent upon Christians to be willing to lose their lives. In fact: every Christian must really lose his life, in order to share life which is truly life.

And finally, Jesus says: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" And what's the point there? Well, this means that Christ's ascension, which Christians share-- Christ's ascension makes Christians willing to lose the entire world, everything in their possession, for the sake of the salvation of their souls through Jesus Christ.

Application Two: Christ's Ascension Affects Your Earthly Life

So then, it's true: Christ's Ascension Affects Your Life-- also your earthly life. Let me explain....

Suppose you're a student. As a Christian student, nothing matters to you but serving Christ. And so, you study as hard as you can. And whatever grade you get, you give the glory to Christ. You study as hard as you can. And you do it: not primarily for good grades, but in order to prepare yourself best to serve Christ in your future.

Or suppose you're a parent. As a Christian parent, nothing matters to you but serving Christ. And so, you read your kids the Bible, or you have them read you the Bible, and you spend time with them so as to influence them by the Bible. And however well they turn out, you give the glory to Christ. You connect your kids to God's Word and you connect yourself to your kids: not primarily for good kids. But you do it in order to prepare them best to serve Christ in their future.

Or suppose you're a worker. As a Christian worker, nothing matters to you but serving Christ. And so, you work as hard as you can. And whatever wealth you gather, you give the glory to Christ. You work as hard as you can, but you're also honest about your hours and honest with the customers and honest with your coworkers. And you work hard: not primarily for the money, but rather in order to take that money and serve Christ with it.

Or suppose you're a retiree. As a Christian retiree, nothing matters to you but serving Christ. And so: you pray hard, and you serve others as the very best example you can. And whatever honor you garner in doing so, you give the glory to Christ. You pray hard and you serve as an example: not primarily for yourself, but in order to point people to Christ.

Conclusion: Description of Our Lives, Since Christ Has Ascended

That's the way Christ's Ascension Affects Your Life. It affects your eternal life: because you're attached to Christ, and you will ascend to be with Christ. Thank God! Christ's ascension also affects your earthly life: because now all you want to do is serve Christ.

After all, the end of the sermon text promises you that right before your ascension: "The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." And you notice: Christ will not reward you because of what you have done. No, your reward will come because of what he has done for you. But that passage promises you that Christ will reward you according to what you have done.

Among other things, it means the studying and working you've done for Christ is eternally to God's glory. It means the fellow students, the coworkers, the children, and the grandchildren -- to whom you are an example and for whom you pray -- may by faith in Christ ascend with you eternally.

That's a powerful incentive to serve Christ! Amen.

As we sang in the ascension psalm: God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. Amen.