By John Kyle, special to the Baptist Message
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) — Some say, “cross my heart and hope to die.” Others say, “let’s pinky swear.” Many of the seasoned saints reading this will say a person’s word is all you need.
For newlyweds, the exchanging and wearing of rings and the repeating of vows seals the deal, if you will.
The business world calls it a contract while in the financial world, a signed and notarized “promissory note” is required.
Promise.
It has been and continues to be a major part of our culture, of our lives. We promise to be on time when we accept a job. We promise to pay our bills on time. We promise to obey the law and not text while we drive.
There are not many aspects of life that promise does not touch.
If you think about it, the original Easter season ended with a promise. After 40 days of providing many convincing truths about His resurrection, Jesus uttered these familiar words:“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8, CSB). Immediately after saying those words, Jesus ascended to Heaven as the disciples watched.
While those words were a promise of power, they were not the final promise of that first Easter season.
As the disciples watched Jesus disappear into the clouds, they stood there, necks craned upward, unable to look away. Suddenly, some angels appeared next to them, redirected their gaze, and asked, “Why do you stand looking up into heaven?” (v. 11).
Then these two heavenly messengers uttered what I call the final promise of the Easter season. “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven” (ibid.).
He’s coming back! That’s the final promise of the Easter season.
A sequel is in the making! A story that began in the garden, was prophesied by the prophets, materialized in the manger, became all too gory at Golgotha, and was enshrined via an empty tomb, promising there’s more to come. That’s the promise.
This wasn’t the first time this promise was mentioned. John recorded the words of Jesus when He told His followers, “…I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also,” John 14:2-3. The promise was not “I’ll see you later.” The promise was I’ll be back!” (sorry Arnold, Jesus said it first).
In a world of broken promises, Jesus’ promise to come again still stands, and it fuels all the rest. In fact, the way we live our lives should be a testament to that promise. Because of that final promise of Easter, every other promise finds its footing:
— His presence doesn’t waver with our circumstances (Heb. 13:5).
— His power isn’t subject to outages or limitations (Acts 1:8).
— His provision hasn’t expired, no matter what the economy does (Matthew 6:33).
— And His peace (the kind that defies explanation) is still available to be claimed (John 14:27).
These aren’t just comforting thoughts. They’re load-bearing promises, held up by the certainty that He is coming back.
Paul reminded the believers in Corinth that all of God’s promises are “Yes, in Him” [Jesus] (2 Corinthians 1:20, CSB).
That final promise of the Easter season should serve as propellant for us to be the salt and light He left us here to be.You and I are children of promise. Through God’s Spirit, let’s live like it – even after Easter.
John Kyle is the recently retired director of communications for Louisiana Baptists.
