Ascend Into Heaven
A new year moves us
forward deeper into winter as darkness begins and lingers longer. The warmth of
the morning sun crawls out from under the horizon as one removes a blanket upon
awakening. Through leafless trees glistening with the morning frost another day
begins on earth. Quietly sipping on morning coffee, my eyes fix on the eastern
sun rising as I gaze from our patio window. I am preoccupied, my thoughts
pondering the dominance of evil in nations around the world. I can not help but
long for Heaven. But longing for heaven to escape the problems of earth is not
the plan of heaven. Preparation for heaven is to long for the One who designed
the realm of eternity. His domain is the Kingdom of love and of choice.
The whole creation has been moaning together in the pains
of labor under the weight of the curse of sin brought about at the fall of
Is the Church today so preoccupied with making a life on
earth that the Bride is not looking forward to
Job’s three friends thought they knew all the reasons and
answers for the suffering of their friend. But after each one had spoken from
his own wisdom, the Ancient of Days spoke from a whirlwind in chapter 38. “Who
is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now your loins
like a man, and I will demand of you, and you declare to Me.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding. Who determined the
measures of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the measuring line upon
it? Upon what were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its
cornerstone.” In chapter 40 the Lord asks Job, “… shall he who would find fault
with the Almighty contend with Him? He who disputes
with God, let him answer it.” Then on into chapter 41 as God asks Job, “… will
you also annul (set aside) and render void My
judgment? Will you condemn Me your God, that you may
appear righteous and justified? Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder
with a voice like His? Since you question the manner of the Almighty’s rule,
deck yourself now with the excellence and dignity of the Supreme Ruler and
yourself undertake the government of the world if you are so wise, and array
yourself with honor and majesty.” To sum it up, God has the final say.
Earth is not our final home. Heaven is where our home is.
We were created to worship the One who created all the kingdoms of this world
and all the realms of the heavenlies. Heaven
is a kingdom of love and choice. When Lucifer tried to place himself above the
kingdom of God Almighty, rebellion broke out in heaven and he was cast down to
earth, the footstool of God, with one third of the angels. They descended in
rebellion and evil intentions to rule from the realms of earth to draw all
creation away from its Creator. We have a choice and we know that if the body
which is our earthly home is destroyed, we have from God a building, a house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed, in this present
abode, our body, we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed
over, we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out
with our heavenly dwelling. (2 Corinthians 5)
So for us to ascend into Heaven, the choice is ours.
Unconditional love is its way and its truth is to be believed, coming through
Jesus Christ the Son of God Almighty, the Ancient of Days who was, who is and
who is to come.
