I had an encounter a few years ago that changed my life, and I needed to remember it today considering all that is going on in the world.
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 glowing and shining. Since then, I often feel this pull to spend time with Jesus and to seek Him out. To “sit and rest in Him and to see heaven and what is going on. 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 are so much closer now. He calls, “Come up,” and it’s a simple step, to relocate myself into the realms of heaven like stepping through a door, or as I like to say, “the garden gate”.
We don’t have to wait until we die to have that kind of closeness or understanding of heaven, and 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 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)
Jesus ascended from earth into heaven before his friend’s eyes, and it’s His example to ascend or come up higher that we can follow. (Luke 24:50-53). God wants us to see from on high, from our heavenly seat, because when we rise above the problems, noise and challenges of our day, we will see from God’s perspective, rather than always struggling below.
Up there we can operate in the frequency and dimensions of heavenly places where the weights and burdens of the world are far less likely to pull us down or cloud our view. We see with heavenly eyes, and things start to make sense as we see a way through, understand what and how God is going about things and the authority we have in Him to bring change and make an impact in our circumstances.
Whatever sort of day you are having, know that Jesus, who ascended through the clouds into heaven, says, “Come to me; come up here and see what I am doing and saying, and renew your strength, power and perspective.
Today look to Jesus and rise above it all, “For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)
“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly. Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary”. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
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. Would you please help me to step into heaven’s realms to spend quality time with you? In Jesus Name Amen.
Oh, by the way, there are no time limits or any other entry conditions to heavenly places. Jesus is the way and our ultimate passport to travel! We can “go up” anytime we want.
“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)