Looking into the Face of Jesus

“As they were gazing into heaven, as He was going, behold, also two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do ye stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).

I look not back—God knows the fruitless efforts,

The wasted hours, the sinning and regrets;
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And graciously forgives, and then forgets.

I look not forward—God sees all the future, 

The road that, short or long, will lead me home;
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burden that may come.

I look not around me—then would fears assail me,

So wild the tumult of life’s restless seas;
So dark the world, so flled with war and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.

I look not inward—that would make me wretched,

For I have naught on which to stay my trust;
Nothing I see but failures and shortcomings,
And weak endeavors crumbling into dust.

But I look up—into the face of Jesus!

For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulflled.

“Let us also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sin which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us, looking steadfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before Him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

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