Editorial April 5, 1993 Issue

Consent to ascension

Mark Swinney

After his crucifixion and resurrection, when Christ Jesus' work was finished on earth, and as he was with his disciples at Bethany, Luke's Gospel describes how "it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Jesus' ascension provides example and guidance of inestimable value for each of us. Isn't ascension really the ultimate victory, where the limitations of materiality and time are utterly transcended? All sin, all illness, and "the last enemy," death, are entirely overcome.

Yet, how does the average person relate to ascension? Was ascension for Jesus only? The very fact that Christ Jesus ascended compels each of us to consider the great consequence of that event. Since he is everyone's example, we all must follow his footsteps sooner or later. Therefore, each of us is to experience ascension in some way and at some time.

From the Scriptural record, we know of only a handful of people who have demonstrated in their own lives that there really is no death or death process. In the Old Testament, in II Kings, we read that after Elisha asked Elijah, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me," Elijah "went up by a whirlwind into heaven." The Bible also describes Enoch's translation, or assumption, from the domain of materiality without his subjection to death. It is worthwhile noting that these three experiences, Jesus' ascension, Elijah's translation, and Enoch's assumption, are quite unlike one another. Our own ascension is also an individual experience.

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