An Unlikely Couple

Nov. 29

Read: John 17:14-16, Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 6:9-13

An Unlikely Couple

Jesus has been about joining two worlds together since the very beginning of time. It has always been God’s plan to join together “heaven and earth”. This is what he is doing in Christ. The truth is that the spiritual realm and the physical realm are already very close… we just lack eyes to see it and ears to hear it most of the time. Consider Elisha the prophet and his servant in 2 Kings 6:15-19. When the people of God were surrounded by the king of Syria, Elisha’s servant was freaking out; meanwhile Elisha was as calm as could be. Why? :

“(Elisha) said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16,17)

You see, Elisha had eyes to see the spiritual realm. He was given the opportunity to behold the reality of what was all around him… what is all around us. Elisha was granted the ability to see God’s loving protection and power at work around him. What is even more exciting is that Elisha was able to pray and share that with is servant! This is what we are ALL moving towards. Some day… sooner or later… in one way or another … through Christ we will live in the Kingdom of God; we will see the completed merging of heaven and earth. In the meantime, the people of God - through our prayers, words, and actions - can be part of helping others eyes to be opened. Like Elisha, the people of God are used by him to help others experience the protection, power, and love of the Lord. We can “share” our awareness of the spiritual truth that is all around us.

This is why Jesus speaks so often of “heaven and earth” and why he is so intentional to stress that his authority stretches to both places. Think about his final instructions to the disciples:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18)

Jesus is the one who has the authority to draw heaven and earth together. Think about how he instructs his people to pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:9)

Do you see it? “Your kingdom come”. The Kingdom of God is something that is coming to this place. Jesus on the cross is like a giant “nail” that nails the Kingdom of God to the face of the earth! Think about when Jesus is speaking to Peter after the correctly identifies him as the anointed one of God… the “Christ”:

“…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” - Jesus (Matt. 16:13-20)

How about now? Do you see how Jesus is drawing together heaven and earth…How what we are doing here actually effects both realms? Somehow and in someway, our actions in this world… in this realm…have an impact in heaven! (cf. Eph. 3:10) The more we participate in the work of the Lord, the more we are going to bump into this biblical truth.

Now it makes sense when Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom does not originate in this world. (John 18:36) The heavenly realm that Jesus is king of is not of this world- BUT it has come to this world. Jesus is bringing the kingdom here. He is merging together “heaven and earth”. As God’s children, this is our mission and work. We are the ones who are called to bring “heaven on earth”. We are called to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God… the Kingdom of Heaven. This is why Jesus prays for us the way that he does:

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14-16)

The armies of heavenly are under the command of Jesus. He has shown us his desire and heart as king - “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” Jesus is working to protect us from the evil one in this world, but we are not “teleported” out of here. Quite the opposite actually. We join Jesus in ushering in the Kingdom of God. We are in Christ and Christ is in us - so we become like Christ… each of us like a “nail” that is attaching heaven to earth! The “canvas” of heaven is being tacked down to the face of the earth by the people of God… each of us traveling with the Kingdom of God in us… with Christ in us. Jesus has always been about bringing heaven to earth… and so are we. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” May God open our eyes to see… like Elisha’s servant. Love you guys. - JDP