It was not uncommon for some of the disciples to boldly blurt out some selfish thought or get into an argument with a fellow believer about when or how these things would come to pass, and even occasionally there was that air of childish behavior begging to have the best seat and most responsibility in the new world. So while standing on the mount in Jerusalem on a beautiful calm day just minutes before the Messiah and Savior would disappear from their sight, several cry out "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Oh, to know the times and seasons of God's divine plan! How exciting to be privy to the great mysteries of God, to know something of supreme and even eternal importance that no one else has knowledge of. What a scintillating experience to be able to look beyond the veil and see into the future! With hearts pounding and minds running wild with how Jesus would answer this profound question the disciples pushed in close so as not to miss a word. "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Jesus' answer was not at all what they were waiting for. Rather than unfold the mysteries of glory and tell them how to prepare for immediate transport and entry into the rich palace of the restored kingdom, He shocked them all when He calmly responded that it really was not their business to be concerned with and know the times or dates the Father in heaven has set by His Almighty authority. There was something much more urgent that they needed to be concerned with.

Now the next words that are recorded are the final words of Christ before He ascended into heaven. Think about it! The very last words He will share with His beloved disciples, those most important thoughts that must be spoken before He leaves them are about to be uttered.

I think about those life situations where you are about to leave some dear friend, or he is about to leave you, and you want to express parting words that will be fittingly appropriate for this final encounter. You choose your words carefully so that your heart will be properly represented to your friend. The last words to be shared.

As Christ spoke His last words they indeed are profound as they express His heart. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

From before the universe came into being, before there were burning stars and beautiful worlds spinning about their axes, the one and only Jehovah God had determined how He would create, love, and redeem a people unto Himself, and it all comes together in this small verse. When His Spirit comes upon us, when He enters into our hearts, we will receive power, a mighty and miraculous force that will enable us to be His witnesses in all the earth.

More important than knowing when He might return or how He will build His new kingdom is our witness to the people of the entire world of His love, saving grace, and awesome plan for our lives. You will be empowered, controlled by the Spirit of the Living God, to be examples and give testimony to Jesus Christ the Redeemer in Bedford, in all Virginia and the United States, and to the ends of the earth. This is it! This is what Christ considered so urgent that His final words to His disciples, including those of the 21st century, are that we are to be His witnesses.

Unless individual followers of Christ and the church obey what the Lord has set before us, then we are disobedient and rebellious children chasing after our own whims. If we are more concerned with times, dates, and seasons than with being godly examples and witnesses to our world, then we are to be most pitied for our shameful and selfish sinfulness. Only when the church is what He calls her to be is she the church. To ignore so great a calling is to be no more than a worldly institution devoid of the power of God.

In our Jerusalem we hear the cries of needy souls calling to us for direction and help. The unchurched who live all around our churches need a witness to Jesus Christ. The lost are drowning in their pain and intense struggles, and Christ's last words to us before His feet lifted off this globe were "you will be my witnesses."

Our Association needs witnesses to teach English to internationals living in the area. We need witnesses to come together as we prepare for September's CenterFest. We need witnesses who will stand before the teenagers of our communities to tell them we love them as we provide regular opportunities for them to hear the Gospel. We need missionaries who will commit to work with the River Rock congregation for an extended period in order to evangelize and establish a new church in the northeast part of our county. We need witnesses who will join our prayer teams to present our petitions before the throne of God. We need believers who will give witness to their faith in God as they become tithers committed to proper and godly stewardship of the wealth that has been placed in our hands. We need a body of believers who will stand on the mount and agree with the Lord of heaven and earth as He declares "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."