Heaven on Earth
Last night while walking my dog I saw a spectacular full moon. The sky was extremely clear above a canopy of thin cracked clouds that blanketed the sky. The clouds were moving very fast, but because they were so thin, the moon was constantly visible. The moon had a halo around it that had color in it, almost like a rainbow. I stood there staring with my mouth open looking straight up at the moon until my neck hurt.
It got me thinking about a couple things:
God is here, whether I realize it or not. God is present regardless of my “feelings.” God is close no matter where I am. God is at work and constant in the world around me. I could exclaim with the psalmist, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2
I also began to think about heaven and earth. What’s the difference between heaven and earth in the face of such a beautiful, breathtaking sight? Well, a lot and not much would be my guess. Through Jesus all of this earth is going to be redeemed - some of it, I suspect, will look a lot different, and some of it will not - like the moon. That same moon is the one that we will gaze upon in heaven, when the earth is redeemed, that moon will be there in glory. That same moon will be the cause for glorifying God in heaven just as it is the cause for glorifying God right now. Jesus taught us to pray by saying, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10. The moon reminded me that when God’s will is done on earth there is not much difference between heaven and earth. That perfect moon must be part of God’s will being done on earth…exactly as it is and will be in heaven.
Then I started to think about people. People. When people do God’s will, when people live in harmony with his will for them, when people offer a cup of cold water to someone in need, when people take care of widows and orphans, when people take care of the environment, when people pray for the sick, when people share the great news about Jesus, when people bless others…the kingdom of God increases, and God’s will is being done on earth…exactly as it is in heaven.
So I seem to have a new goal in doing God’s will - not just to live out my own faith, not only to glorify God, not only to bless others…but how about doing God’s will in order to see heaven…on earth?
Hey Ryan! y doesnt any one say anything on this one?
hmmm…dunno, what do you think about it?
I love what you said about doing God’s will to see Heaven on Earth. The Lord commands us to pray in that way in the Lord’s Prayer but we often don’t. “This then, is how you should pray…YOUR KINGDOM COME, your will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” I think it is so cool that God gives us the power to pray that his Kingdom will increase upon this earth. We are to pray that His glory will be complete here, with us, in our midst. That is just so exciting for me!
I won’t lie to you, Ryan, I have not read “Heaven on Earth” (yet). I simply wanted to say hello to everyone and didn’t know where else to leave a little note. I’m new to pretty much anything that has even the slightest bit to do with computers/internet. Can’t wait to see all of you at CCC, my home church that I do dearly love!
Hey Lisa, we’re always looking forward to seeing you too!!