Heavenly Jerusalem
The City of God in Heaven is
just as real as this earth we live on. It is clear in Scripture that the
Father in Heaven created the earth for man and Him to enjoy. In original
creation -- before sin defiled the earth and man -- the Father would
step out of His “Pearly White City” and walk in this garden with Adam.
Moses, the author of Genesis, told of the wonderful fellowship that God
had in His garden with Adam until sin appeared.
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking
in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Genesis 3:8a).
What a story would have continued, but on this
occasion sin interrupted a perfect environment. Heaven and earth were so
close that the Father and man could have personal fellowship without
limitation. The corruption -- sorrow, jealousy, anger, and death -- all
began in this garden that our Father had created so perfectly. The
Heavenly city did not change and Satan was cast out with all his
renegades. While God’s Son was on earth effecting redemption, He told of
watching Satan being expelled from His Father’s presence. He said,
“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
Heaven” (Luke 10:18b).
The earth began a slow but powerful descent into the
muck and mire that we presently witness. Satan and those that follow him
are responsible for every heartache and destruction that is visible
everywhere. Sickness did not exist until sin. No one can doubt that our
environment is practically depleted. Every physical upheaval --
earthquakes and great storms -- are but death pains of societal decay.
But a perfect redemptive plan is recorded in the Holy Bible. We call
this plan “Prophecy” and the sounds of hope are in the air.
Heaven and earth were originally in close proximity to
each other or close enough that the great fellowship between the two
could unfold daily. But, a great gulf was created by God to separate a
sinful world from a holy Heaven. Today, we call it the Second Heaven.
Our world has its own Heaven that is full of stars and other created
bodies. The Heavenly kingdom is in the Third Heaven, where the great
city of God gleams in its splendor. New Jerusalem that the Son of God
created for His Bride probably sits in the suburbs waiting for the
wedding day. John saw it and recorded its beauty in Revelation chapters
twenty-one and two.
This Third Heaven is my subject today. The Bible tells
us that Jesus came down from Heaven to be born into our world. He said
it Himself, “And no man hath ascended up to
Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of man which is
in Heaven” (John 3:13). It was His dwelling
place for eternity, but He was willing to come down to us to redeem man
and His earth. The headquarters of the Heavenly host of angels is in
Heaven. He told His disciples that they would see angels ascending and
descending unto Him from Heaven. They are still ascending and descending
to minister for those that are His disciples.
Heaven is the treasure trove of the saints of God. We
do not lay up our treasure here on earth. Jesus told the rich young
ruler to give up everything, sell it all, and follow Him. His words are
beautiful, “Jesus said unto him, If thou
wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come and follow me” (Matthew
19:21).
Why are the multitudes willing to keep to themselves
earthly treasures and store them up for their family to fight over while
almost nothing is being sent on ahead as “treasure in Heaven?” If your
treasures are in this world, they will soon be obliterated in the
cleansing of this earth.
This “Pearly White City” that is called Heavenly
Jerusalem is, without question, breathtaking to behold. Apostle Paul was
caught up to view the city and returned without words to describe it. He
said it was unlawful for Him to repeat what He had beheld. John saw the
New Jerusalem prepared for the saints, but gave no description of the
Holy City itself.
The Psalmist David spoke of the Son of God and His
returning for the saints. He described Him with beautiful words and then
told us He would come out of the ivory palaces of Heavenly Jerusalem.
Here are His words, “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and
cassia, out of the “Ivory Palaces,” whereby they have made thee glad”
(Psalm 45:8, emphasis added). Three songs later He spoke of the city,
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be
praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on
the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her
palaces for a refuge” (Psalm 48:1-3).
Its time to quit living for this passing world and its
empty promises. Heaven is the homeland. The great promises of the Lord
are intimately connected to a New Heaven and a New Earth all renewed and
joined together again. Sin will never interrupt the harmony of our
future. The one door into this grand day is Jesus Christ, God’s only
Son. Surrender to His grace and live the holy life He has prepared for
you in His righteousness. Soon, all things He has prepared and promised
will be ours to enjoy forever.
Joseph R. Chambers
jrc@pawcreek.org
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Paw Creek Ministries
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Charlotte, NC 28208 USA
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