SEEING HEAVEN ON EARTH

By Pastor Bob DeKlavon

We have been given glimpses of heaven.

Think of the fruit of the Spirit as Christians experience God’s love and joy and peace.

Granted—we don’t always see them perfectly or, for a sustainable time.

But….we get a taste of what heaven will be like.

I have always enjoyed the imagery in Ephesians 1:13-14 which says:

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit NOW in our lives—gives promise for WHAT WILL BE.

I have known God’s love and shared His kindness and been overwhelmed by His mercy.

Sadly—it only lasts for awhile but it DOES give me a glimpse of what I will find in heaven.

I thought of this, too, in relation to people.

Currently, we are having riots and protests and people are divided over so many things.

Yesterday, I spoke about the heart change needed to bring unity and that comes through Jesus.

In ‘seeing heaven on earth’—I was reminded of the great imagery of Revelation 7:9.

            Here is how Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message paraphrase:

I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

Salvation to our God on his Throne!
 Salvation to the Lamb!

Tonight {Wednesday}, I get to meet with my small group.

As I pictured them—I pictured heaven.

In my small group—I have the following:

            People of Asian descent

            People of Mexican descent

            People with children and/or grandchildren who are African-American

            People who are native American

            People who represent a spectrum of ‘white America’

We gather together—for no other reason—then because of salvation from the Lord.

In heaven—that will be the image—people of all types—joined together because of Jesus.

Politics cannot make us one.  Government cannot make us one.  Edicts cannot make us one.

Only ONE can make us one.

And that ONE gives us a glimpse of heaven on earth each time we see His church!