On Earth as it is in Heaven
As our children mature, we, as parents, still desire to hear from them. Our communication is different from what it was when they were kids but it’s essential to maintaining our relationship. With God, it’s no different. He created the heavens and the earth with the spoken word, “Let there be light,” but with mankind He (figuratively) knelt down, took some earth, and sculpted the first man in His image. That truth shows us how heaven, God’s residence, and earth are eternally linked; that hasn’t changed but has been improved through Jesus.
Most of us have been exposed to the Lord’s Prayer but have you pondered the meaning of Jesus’ phrase,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 ESV)
God’s MO, the way He operates, begins in His dwelling above the heavens and travels to the earth to accomplish what He intends (Is. 55:8-11). His creation receives that word and responds accordingly. Sometimes the miraculous happens as in Jacob’s vision (Gen. 28:10-17) and at other times by answers to prayer in our everyday lives. God’s utmost desire is to have a relationship with you and He uses whatever means He chooses.
The Old Testament records figurative windows of heaven (Gen. 7&8) opening during the flood and the building of Babel whose name means gateway to God. Mankind has always wanted those windows and gates opened and to connect with the Creator. Let’s consider Jacob.
This third patriarch of the Old Testament (Gen. 28) had deceptively received the firstborn inheritance: the blessing. In this chapter Jacob, fleeing from his angry brother Esau and searching for a wife, quite unaware, experienced God intersecting heaven and earth for him. This flight of stairs (Jacob’s Ladder) is a picture of what’s happening when God communicates with His people. The windows and gates to God are opened and He responds to His people with gifts of love and mercy, protection and guidance, healing and grace. His angels are active as they descend from heaven to earth and back to God again, continually.
… angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. (Hebrews 1:14 NLT)
God’s promise to Abraham was the focus of Jacob’s dream. God needed to encourage this leader that He was faithful to fulfill all He had declared. That’s also true of believers, the seed of Abraham through adoption; God will do what His Word said He’ll do. Scripture is our promise.
The overlapping of heaven and earth is not always visible but it’s true nonetheless. When we communicate with God the window and gate is opened and He responds. At just the right time He’ll send that answer in whatever form He chooses and connect heaven and earth for us. It’s God’s will for His Kingdom to come on earth now as a foretaste of His eternal reign that’s coming. Ahh, He’s coming back.
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