While [the disciples] watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked…toward heaven…two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The two men, who were actually angels, made it clear to the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way He left. In other words, He’s not going to return to earth until He comes in the clouds. Has Jesus returned in the clouds yet? The answer is clearly no. This means presently Jesus is still at the right hand of God in heaven.

Think about the time when Stephen was stoned. We read in Acts 7:55-56, “But [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” Try to imagine Jesus in all His glory standing in honor of His martyr, anticipating this sacred moment that would be recounted for generations to come. While this story is a beautiful depiction of a glorious reunion, it also serves as a reminder of the irrefutable fact that Jesus currently resides at His Father’s side.

The truth is that Jesus has been in this position of glory for approximately two thousand years. He’s not here on the earth. I know we like to say He lives in our hearts, but in reality, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, is the One who makes our hearts His dwelling place.

It is important for us to recognize that the Holy Spirit is referred to as both the Spirit of God the Father and the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Son). Let’s take a look at some examples of this.

In Philippians 1:19 Paul states, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Jesus made it abundantly clear that He would have to leave so that the Holy Spirit could come in His place. Paul is clearly referring to the Holy Spirit (the Helper) here, not to the incarnate Jesus, because Jesus is no longer on the earth.

In Matthew 10:20 Jesus declares, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Jesus was speaking of the time to come when His disciples would be persecuted and tried for the gospel’s sake. The Spirit of the Father (the Holy Spirit) would guide them and put the right words in their mouths.

Even now, as I write, these words are not the result of my intellect or experience. The Spirit of my Father is teaching through me. I have tried to teach out of my own strength; trust me, it only ends in miserable failure. It is by His grace, the empowerment of His Holy Spirit, that I am what I am. The good news is He has never left me high and dry—He always shows up. When I yield in humility to the Spirit of grace (see Hebrews 10:29), He is faithful to turn my weakness into strength.