The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 34

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34 The Lutheran Pioneer.

of the work of our redemption had been left for us
to do, we should be lost forever. But, thanks be to
God, the work of our redemption is finished. This
faith of the Christian is strengthened by the pre-
cious truth of Christ’s ascension. Our redemption
was the work for which Christ came down from
heaven, and His going back to heayen and His now
being “in the presence of God for us” is the crown-
ing proof that the work which He came to do is
finished, that His atoning sacrifice has forever satis-
fied the Father, and that the victory is won. Our
Redeemer returns to heaven in glorious, triumph as
the mighty Conqueror over all our enemies. We
are redeemed:; and sin, death, devil, and hell, in
whose captivity we were, have been made captives
and slaves. Therefore it is written of the ascended
Savior: “Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast
led captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts for
men.” It is our Substitute, our Representative,
that has gained the victory and ascended trium-
phantly into heaven. We are redeemed, and heaven
is opened to us.

“The atoning work is done,

The Victim’s blood is shed,

And Jesus now is gone

His people’s cause to plead:

He stands in heaven their great High Priest,
And bears their names upon His breast.”

* * *

The Christian’s love is directed, not to the pass-
ing things of earth, but to the lasting treasures of
heaven. He loves not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. His affections are set upon
things above. This love of the Christian is strength-
ened and more and more kindled by the precious
truth of Christ’s ascension. The Savior says:
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.” Christ is the Christian’s treasure, and as
He ascended into heaven, the Christian’s love and
affections are directed heayenward. His heart is
in heaven. To him the things of this world have
lost their attractions and are worthless in com-
parison with the eternal treasures of heaven whither
Christ has ascended. Christians must not run after
the perishable treasures of earth while above them
are flashing crowns of everlasting joy and glory.
The apostle says: “Seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of
God. Set your affections on things above, not on
things on the earth.”

“¥arewell with all thy treasures,

O world, to falsehood given!

Thy dross gives no true pleasures;
We seek the joys of heaven:

The Savior is our Prize;
He comforts us in sadness,
And fills our hearts with gladness;
To Him we lift our eyes.”
* *

The Christian’s hope is directed towards the life
everlasting. “If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” says the
apostle. Our hope looks forward to the life to
come. This hope of the Christian is strengthened
and quickened by the precious truth of Christ’s
ascension. The apostle tells us that Christ entered
heaven as our “forerunner.” We shall surely fol-
low and go where He has gone, since He is but gone
before us to prepare a place for us. He Himself
tells us: “In my Father’s house are many man-
sions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and re-
ecive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye
may be also.” Christians are strangers and _ pil-
grims in this world, “looking for the blessed hope,
the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ.” He will come again and take THis
weary pilgrims home to be with Him in everlasting
bliss. When He ascended and the disciples looked
longingly up to heaven, two messengers of God ap-
peared unto them and told them: “This same
Jesus which is taken .up from you into heaven shall
so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven.” “Yet a little while, and He that shall
come will come.” His coming again will be the
fulfillment of all our hopes.

“A little while, our Lord shall come,
And we shall wander here no more;
He’ll take us to our Father’s home,
Where He for us has gone before —
To dwell with Him, to see His face,

* And sing the glories of His grace.”

Whom Do You Serve?

There are only two kingdoms in this world, the
kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the devil.
Man is either in the one or in the other. He can-
not be in both at the same time. He cither serves
Christ or he serves the devil. He cannot serve both
at the same time. Whom do you serve?

Tue Church is an assembly of people that de-
pends on things which do not appear, nor can be
apprehended by the senses; namely, on the Word
alone. This people believes what the Word says,
and gives God the glory, trusting that what He
promises us. therein is true. — Luther.