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Synopsis from atstracts.org

Jesus, not Frosty, will fulfill this promise.

TRACT TEXT

One winter day some children put a top hat on their snowman, and in a moment of Christmas wonder, the snowman comes to life. Frosty the Snowman shows the children the most wonderful time they have ever known. They can play outdoors with Frosty all day long and never get cold. Their sleds slide farther than ever before. But then the days get a little warmer, and one day a gust of wind blows the top hat off their snowman. “Frosty the Snowman had to hurry on his way, but he waved goodbye saying, ‘Don’t you cry; I’ll be back again some day.’ Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump. Look at Frosty go!”

The biblical account of Jesus going up to heaven is called the Ascension. When He goes away, His disciples are feeling a lot like the children who had to say goodbye to Frosty the Snowman. With Jesus, the disciples have had the greatest time of their lives. Life has been full of miracles. Sick people have been healed. Blind people regain sight. The lame walk. Great storms are calmed. But now, Jesus is about to leave them. Jesus waves goodbye and says, (sort of) “Don’t you cry; I’ll be back again someday.”

We find that story in Acts chapter 1, verses 7-12:
“He [Jesus] said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.‘

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men [angels] dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”

In a sense, all of us are like those children in “Frosty the Snowman.” All of us are like the disciples at the moment of the Ascension. We think the wonderful moment is over.

But with Jesus, it’s NOT! Take a look.

The two angels come to the disciples and say, “What are you still doing up here? You have so much to look forward to.” Then the angels make three promises.

Promise #1: Your life is in the hands of a loving God.
Acts 1:7 says, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” We can’t know what the future holds, but we do know “Who” holds the future. God has a plan, and everything is under His control.

Promise #2: You will receive power: That power is for a specific purpose, which Jesus says is to—“be my witnesses.” In other words, to tell people about Him. You can live the life He lives; you can love with the love He has.

Then they give us Promise #3: Don’t cry, Jesus will be back again someday. One of the angels says, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go....” On that day we will all be in heaven, reunited with Jesus. There will be hugs and tears of joy forever and ever.

To receive these promises, you must first receive Jesus by faith.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8

GOD’S DESIRE
The Bible tells us that God loves us and has a plan for His people.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

OUR SIN
But because of our sin, we cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for our life.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

GOD’S PROVISION
Jesus Christ’s unique birth, perfect and miraculous life, sacrificial death and His resurrection allow us to experience God’s love and plan for our life. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

OUR DECISION
When we profess Him as Lord and Savior, we receive forgiveness for our sins and are invited into a relationship with God through Jesus.
“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God....” John 1:12

How you can become a Christian:
You can become a Christian by simply talking to God in prayer. God knows your heart and is not concerned with your words or how great you pray. When you pray:
• Know that God already loves you and has been at work in your life.
• Admit your sin and your need for Jesus.
• Thank God for sending His Son to die on the cross for your sin.
• Invite Jesus into your life to be your own Lord and Savior.
• Thank God for forgiving your sins and for giving you eternal life through Jesus.
• Ask Jesus to take control of your life.

Dr. Victor D. Pentz

Bible references: NIV
Illustration by Dan Foote • Printed in USA • ©2004

ISBN# 1-55837-864-2 31579