The greatest attraction of heaven is the presence of God. We have the opportunity in heaven to be surrounded by an atmosphere of His love, joy, and peace 24/7 in an unending experience of His greatness.
A peculiar aspect of human behavior is that we desire to experience God’s presence when we are in heaven. However, for some reason, we prefer to live as though He doesn’t exist while on Earth.
Jesus taught us to pray that we would recognize the greatness of His character and live as subjects of the King of all kings, doing His will on earth as if we were before Him in heaven.
May your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6.9-10)
When you think about it, Jesus was inviting us to pray for heaven to be experienced while on earth.
God, through the prophet Joel, promises that we will experience His presence. The people faced judgment because they spoke of God but failed to follow Him or acknowledge His presence, but that was not to be their situation forever.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel
and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. (Joel 2.27)
What if we began to live on Earth as though we were already in Heaven? What if we made a conscious effort to be aware of God’s presence in our daily lives? What would be the benefit to us? Here are a few suggestions.
(1) God – Not Distant, but Near – I frequently advise people that in times of trouble, it’s better to have God as a close friend rather than a distant memory.
When we are aware of God as a present reality in our lives, we find Him as a daily, living force. He becomes a source of comfort and strength, offering His assistance in joy, trials, or even the mundane aspects of everyday life.
(2) The One and Only God – The One and Only God, Creator of everything and Lover of all, yearns for a close and unique relationship with us.
Instead of a vague notion of a distant deity, we can have a personal relationship with the King of all kings and the Savior of the world.
Should we not seek a profound relationship with Him each day?
(3) Forgiveness Instead of Shame – The promise that we shall never again be put to shame is magnificent.
Praise God, for His presence eliminates the guilt of our sins and failures. Instead, He bestows upon us unconditional love and forgiveness, removing the burden of shame and filling us with a sense of worth and self-respect.
This is the gift of being close friends with our ever-present Lord and Savior.
(4) Daily Guidance and Wisdom – A wise person said, “There would be no sense in saying you trust Jesus if you would not take his advice.”
When we choose to live in God’s presence, we get to take his direction, guidance, and wisdom. He will show us how to navigate the difficult times of life, make moral decisions, and understand our purpose in the world.
(5) A Transforming Friendship – The most rewarding aspect of maintaining a daily relationship with the Lord, conscious of His presence, is the transformative friendship it offers.
A relationship with Him renews our hearts, heals our wounds, and rejuvenates our spirits.
This type of love transcends understanding, instills peace and joy within us, and equips us to love others.
Each of us should take advantage of God’s great gift of His presence.
If we are attracted to heaven and the presence of God there, should we not be attracted to heaven on earth as we cooperate with Him?
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 