Following my last devotional about the release of my balloons and how they were dancing in heavenly places, I’ve been pondering the amazing fact that God has lifted us up to be with Him. As it says in Eph 2:6: ‘And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.’
Just as the balloons rose naturally to take their place in the sky, so the natural place as Christians, for us to dwell is in the heavenly realms with Jesus. The balloons rise because the helium they are filled with is lighter than air and similarly, we are filled with the breath of God, the Holy Spirit, God in us. When I watched those balloons soaring so gracefully, it filled my heart with longing.
We can forget sometimes that God has made heaven to be our home. We feel tied to the earth with all its problems and conflicts, everything can seem negative and I find it impossible sometimes to imagine that I have the right to see and hear the things of heaven. But Jesus prayed: ‘Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me … I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known….(John 17:24,26) Jesus was saying that He wants us to be with Him, not just when we die, but now in this life. We see again and again how He always longed for the disciples to see from Heavens perspective, for example when he fed the 5000, He tested them by asking how they would feed everyone. They were completely thrown and their answer showed they were still so tethered to an earthly understanding. Jesus took the food they had sourced from the young boy and, putting it into their hands, asked them to distribute it to the thousands of people. Imagine their total bewilderment and surge of wonder and worship as they saw those fragments of fish and bread multiplying in their very hands. He’d hoped they would see from heaven’s perspective as soon as he asked but despite them not getting it, he still did everything to ensure they could grasp that they were living in a new heavenly realm, empowered by the Holy Spirit and close to the Father’s heart.
We too are in that place, and He longs for our understanding to be expanded so we can start to respond from heaven’s perspective rather than earth’s. It’s a learning curve, a journey into faith but we have such a patient and persevering teacher in the Holy Spirit. A huge key is the fact that Jesus wants us to be with Him. He desires our company and longs for us to be close. He loves us as a friend to confide in, as a bride whom He loves passionately and works in partnership with and as God’s beloved child making us actual brothers and sisters with Jesus. In every way we are chosen and sought after by God. That is a wonderful message for those of us who feel insignificant and passed over in life.
If you feel a longing to go deeper and to rise up in your spirit, then know that this longing comes from Jesus Himself. He is calling you in love to be with Him where He is. Will you hear that call?
As Marilyn sings:
‘I have called you, I have chosen you. I really love you, I’m always close beside you. And as you lean on me, I will give you the resources of Heaven.’ © Marilyn Baker.
May you know the joy of being desired and sought out by Jesus today.
