Devotional #16
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” Act 7: 55-56. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God had prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:…” 1 Cor 2: 9-10.
God breathed the breath of lives which provided man to live unto himself on earth and live unto God, who is in heaven. God also kept the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Had man eaten from the tree of life, he would have lived unto God and towards the things of heaven.
But sadly, man did not obey God’s command and instead, he ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Ever since the spiritual organ in man is dead and consequently man has lost the ability to perceive the things of heaven. But God in His mercy dealt with his chosen people to give the revelation and spoke with them about his plans from time to time in times past. They did perceive the things of God in spirit and lived unto God to fulfill the plans of God in their lifetime.
Enoch saw that the Lord is coming to earth in glory to judge the world. Moses saw the invisible God. David wrote many prophetical psalms after receiving the revelation, about our Lord’s suffering and His glorious return to establish His kingdom. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and many others saw the things of heaven while they were living here on earth.
Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, descended from heaven. “And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony” John 3:32.
During Lord’s ministry, He testified about the things of heaven but people did not believe in him and received not his teachings. “ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive” Matthew 13:14. The Israeli nation has rejected the message of the Lord and finally crucified him.
After the ascension of the Lord, the Holy Spirit came as per the promise. He dwelt in those, who not only accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour but also identified with Him in his death and resurrection by faith.
The Holy Spirit quicken the spiritual organ in man and enabled him to perceive the heavenly things of God. Paul’s writings to Corinthians said “But as it is written, Eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, that the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: …” 1 Cor 2: 9-10.
The high calling and heavenly purposes, and good pleasure of his lofty counsels for the man will be made known through His Spirit. When a believer shows obedience to this light and willingly walks with God habitually, He opens Heavens and blesses him.
Stephen had enjoyed this blessed privilege. Heavens opened for him and saw God the father and glorified Saviour our Lord. Paul had seen the Lord on his way to Damascus. His physical senses were made closed and spiritual organs eyes and ears were opened to see and hear the Lord.
Ever since, he testified about the things that he has seen and heard. “we having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and therefore I have spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” 2Cori 4:13. “ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…” 2Cori 4:18. John the Apostle writes “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the word of life” 1 John 1:1. He enjoyed blessed privilege of seeing the invisible.
During Lord’s time here on earth the Pharisees and scribes were stubborn to heed the calling of the Lord to the matters of heaven and its kingdom. In the early churches, some believers turned to the things of earth operated by physical senses. Paul had to sternly warn them about this falling spiritual life. In our times this is much more evident that believers only focus on earthly matters. If we do so, we are the most miserable people on earth.
“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them” Prove 20:12. These organs, eyes, and ears not only function for earthy things but can also function in heavenly things in those who are activated by the Holy Spirit. These are called REINS in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:7, 139:13). Paul calls them in the New Testament as SENSES (Heb 5:14) to be used as Spiritual organs.
God has called us for heavenly citizenship and the Holy Spirit helps by teaching, preparing, and enabling us to see them by using our REINS. Those who see and focus on earthly matters, will not be able to use REINS to focus on heavenly matters.
The perception of heavenly matters will go dull and finally go blind. Let us turn our eyes to see things which are eternal and glorious in nature by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Col 3:1-2.
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