The world doesn’t need more do’ers it needs more feasters. More people who will eat and drink and be merry. More party goers!
That may sound strange but it’s so true and so simple. Jesus invites us everyday to eat and drink what He has on offer and there is a lot on offer! But sadly we so often make life far more difficult and a harder “slog” than we need to and miss what Jesus is offering. We take all the joy and bliss out of knowing Him.
We don’t have to work or toil for Him to love us. He loves us right now, for who and what we are in this moment. All Jesus asks is that we come and hang out with Him, that we “come up” out of the distractions, the work, the pressures, and spend time with Him. Then everything else flows out of that place we find in Him.
I had a revelation a few years ago that changed my life. I was spending time with God and I heard Him say clearly within me. “Come up here, come up”. You can come up here anytime you want to. Let go of the things of the world, and come up here.” It was a call heavenward, and as I heard those words, I felt myself being pulled upward. Then this power hit my body so hard that I was shaking from head to toe. I saw lights moving in front of my face and all around me, and God kept calling me. “Come up, Come up here”.
It was an encounter that shifted things inside me like never before. I looked in the mirror a few hours later and my face was actually glowing and shining. Ever since then I feel this pull to just spend time with Jesus, to seek Him out, to “sit on a park bench” to speak, and rest in Him. At other times I’ll be just walking along chatting to Him or talking to someone about Jesus and I will physically feel an updraft around me. His tangible presence and love is so much closer now. He calls us to “Come up,” and it’s a simple step, to relocate myself into the realms of heaven like stepping through a door, through the veil, or as I like to say “the garden gate”. It’s truly awesome.
We don’t have to wait until we die to have that kind of closeness to heaven, to God. We have the invitation now, because we have been given access to heaven by what Jesus did on the cross for us. There is no barrier now, no sin too big, no distance. All he asks is that we accept his offer of forgiveness and love and to follow Him and His way of doing things. And His ways are quite frankly far more exciting and a lot easier than anything we can think up.
Jesus himself said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Today I encourage you to take up the invitation that Jesus extends to everyone. “Come up, come up and see, hear and know now”. Don’t wait until you die to experience heaven and all the amazing things God wants you to walk in and to reveal. Death is not the doorway to heaven, Jesus is!
No matter where you are at with God, open up and read this invitation. Ask Jesus to forgive you where you have messed up; where you have done things your own way. Then close your eyes to shut out this world’s distractions, and step through the “gate” by faith into heaven. Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you, to show you around. Give him all your worries, your concerns and anything else that keeps pulling you back down. Then enjoy.
Oh, by the way there are no time limits or any other entry conditions. That’s it. We can “go up” into heavenly places anytime we want. It’s the ultimate passport to travel!
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth”. (Colossians 3:1-2)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (By grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”(Ephesians 2:4-6)
Prayer: Jesus help me to let go of the things of the world that keep me focused on earth instead of heaven. Forgive me when I mess up or forget you. Please help me to step into heaven’s realms to spend quality time with you. In Jesus Name Amen.
Comments