HEAVEN ON EARTH

Ever been to a country’s embassy in your country before? What was the first thing you observed? I guess the first thing you observed was the different atmosphere based on what you saw. Though you were in your own country, that country’s embassy was strictly customized to represent that country to the latter. I guess at some point you might have almost lost the consciousness of the fact that you were in your own country. What happened to you was that you got the experience of another country in your own country. In the same way, the Church of Jesus Christ is the embassy of Heaven here on earth. The Church is the link between heaven and earth. Praise God! While the headquarters of the Kingdom of God is in heaven, the Church is the Kingdom of God in miniature here on earth. The Scripture makes it so clear that as Believers in Christ, our citizenship is in heaven (Philip.3:20, NIV). In the Kingdom of God, dual citizenship is never permitted – you’re either in fully, wholly and completely or out! It’s a strict Kingdom. We are Ambassadors for Christ (2Cor.5:20). Like every ambassador of a country, we represent heaven’s interest on earth. Having said that, let’s look at something more amazing here. Apostle John, by the Holy Spirit, narrates a striking event in his Epistle. We see that in John 1:43-51. While still choosing His disciples, Jesus found Philip and said to him “follow me.” Philip finds Nathanael and says to him “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (verse 45). You can just imagine the excitement in Philips voice. The Jews had so longed to see the Messiah and here He comes and Philip has seen Him. Oh how I share in this excitement. I could just imagine what it felt like for Philip. Then, in response, Nathanael says to Philip: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” and Philip has just one comment for Nathanael (the sceptic): “Come and see” and, of course, Nathanael comes along. I see this playing out so much in this new season the Lord has brought us into: The Greater Glory – The season of seeing. We shall not only see, but also display the greater glory of God to the world. Praise God! Now, when Jesus saw them coming, He said of Nathanael “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” and Nathanael (must have been in shock) says “How do You know me?” Jesus answers “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” This gets Nathanael’s attention so deeply, he is convinced and says: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Now, Jesus answers Nathanael with words that he’d never forget as long as he lived. Jesus says to him “Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these. (In other words, you haven’t seen a thing yet!) And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."” (John 1:50,51). Wow! What in the world was Jesus talking about? That brings me to the point of this piece. I want you to ponder on those words again. First, He says “…you shall see heaven open…” in other words, I am walking under open heavens. Remember, at His baptism, the heavens were opened unto Him (Matthew 3:16). Well, the heavens didn’t close up later, but remained open unto Him. And then, He says “…and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Jesus was simply saying, “I have come as a link between heaven and earth.” Understand His statement. Jesus didn’t mean that He has come to create a link between heaven and earth but that He was (and still is) the Link between heaven and earth. That statement alone was the whole process of His redemptive work in just one statement! Jesus came to serve as the Link through which fallen man could connect back to God for the restoration of everything to the original plan. Oh Hallelujah! From this stand point you can now understand the purpose of all that Jesus did while on earth for man. He came to reconcile all things back to the Father. He came to be the Link! So how did the Lord Jesus Christ manifest this? He carried about the atmosphere of heaven everywhere He went. Men marvelled at His Words. He spoke with the wisdom and authority of heaven. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. He carried the aura of the Presence of God! He brought circumstances under His control. He couldn’t be defeated. He was a terror to every demonic being and He simply crushed their enterprises wherever He went. The Scripture is filled with His mighty, awesome and Supernatural work on earth. Finally, before He left the earth, He suffered and died in man’s place, as man’s Substitute. It didn’t end there, on the third day He rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost! And before ascending to Heaven, He transferred to us (the Church) the mandate of being the link in His Name. That’s what the Great Commission is all about! [Mark 16:15-20, 2Cor.5:17-21]. Now, we must recognize that the Lord Jesus Christ was simply showing us how to live from heaven while still on earth. The Christian is not a weakling. Jesus didn’t do all He did for man in order to produce a weak or substandard New Creation. We're called to manifest Heaven on earth. This is what the Lord Jesus meant when he, in teaching His disciples the principle of prayer, said "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." (Matt.6:10). We ought to demonstrate the lifestyle and authority of heaven here on earth! Yes, we must be heaven conscious! We must think home. That's our Headquarters. We ought to operate from there. Indeed, these are days of heaven on earth (Deut.11:21). Our responsibility as Christians here on earth is to manifest the lifestyle and authority of heaven here on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ being our ultimate pattern. Think of it. In Jesus’ days on earth, He was the only Man with the open heavens but today, every believer has the privilege of walking under open heavens. This is what Jesus meant when He said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12. Saints, let’s do it for the Lord. Get immersed in it!