Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven."

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

The story is told of a conversation that took place many years ago on New Year’s Eve on the battle line of the war zone in Korea. The temperature that night was forty-two degrees below zero. Eighteen-hundred American Marines were facing one-hundred thousand Communist troops. The situation for …