Give ‘em Heaven

This week, Michael askss: What’s on your heart? Are we seeking to bless rather than to be blessed? Your heart determines what you’ll give. If you don’t have it, you can’t give it away. Even though we cannot fully imagine what Heaven will be like, Jesus said, treasure treasures upon heaven and not upon earth. The scripture says, eye has not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for those who love Him and are called according to His promise.

It’s not natural to give ‘em. Heaven. A glimpse of heaven is a glimpse of God’s loving kindness and tender mercy … it is a glimpse of the divine love of God. It is a glimpse of turning the other cheek and going the second mile. In this life, it’s rare to get a glimpse of God’s eternal nature. At the end of this life, the question will be, “did you give ‘em heaven?” When they encountered you did they get a glimpse of utmost happiness and peace with your Heavenly Father?  

The devil will distract our eyes from seeing God’s heavenly purpose in the things that the Lord calls us to do. This is why Jesus said, we walk by faith and not by sight. Set your affections on things above and not on things here below. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The god of this world [the devil] is the god of death and hell. There is much to be disappointed about in this world of darkness. When we focus on the problems, tribulations, and pain and suffering around us, we will be consumed by the things of this world and by the devil’s schemes to distract us with thoughts of sin, death, and hell. However, the Apostle Paul said, walk in the light as he is in the light and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In walking in close proximity with our Lord, He will fill our field of vision. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

The weeping prophet Jeremiah set his affections on things above. He said: “I found thy words, and I did eat them. And they became unto me the joy and rejoicing of my soul.” As Psalm 19 says, the words, the precepts, the law of the Lord, and His statutes are more to be desired than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honey comb. SJesus said, “you are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” To reflect the light of Christ, we must turn our face toward Him. Then when others see us, they will see the light of Christ reflected in our face.

Jesus said, “you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its saltiness, then it is useless, gets thrown out and gets trampled underfoot.” Salt will lose its saltiness if it is diluted and polluted by the world. The question is, whose influencing whom? Are we influenced by the world or does the salt of the truth of the Word of God influence the world around us? Our first priority is to have our priorities in order; to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then when we have our vertical relation in alignment with our Father, we can approach our horizontal relationships with others from a heavenly perspective. Salt represents truth. 

 

God expects us to infiltrate the lies with truth and the darkness with light. Jesus in his authority said, go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the age. When the student is ready the teacher will come. God brings across our path, those to whom we can demonstrate the power, comfort, and love of God’s salt and light. He has called us to plant and water, to cultivate the soil and to plow and fertilize the ground [which represents the hearts of others], to pull the weeds of lies and temptation. Then God will give the increase at the time of harvest.

God allows tribulation and testing to refine us. Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” Even though the god of this world, the devil and his followers will despise and ridicule and persecute those who walk in the light of Christ, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Therefore, we have been called to freedom and liberty in Christ. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has set you free and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage [of sin and death]. Only use not liberty as an occasion to sin, but to serve one another in love.

For even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. For Jesus Christ who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. He has seated us in heavenly places and has empowered us with his Holy Spirit and commissioned us as his Ambassadors. As His emissaries, our mission and our commission is to deliver a peace treaty from our home in heaven. Therefore we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to Christ.

In other words, Give ‘em Heaven that we may ever live in the unity of the Spirt, in the bond of Peace, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Your brother in Christ, Michael