We often hear people say they can’t wait to get to heaven. Sometimes it is due to chronic physical pain. Sometimes it is due to simply being weary and worn out. Often, it is due to sorrow over the loss of a loved one and a longing to be with them again…but mostly, it’s a phrase people use when they want to be in an atmosphere of peace that heaven promises to believers.
Reality is that we don’t need to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy that atmosphere of peace. All we have to do is understand what the atmosphere of heaven is like, but to do so, we must see what God’s point of view on the matter is. Here is a passage of God’s Word that gives us a big fat clue as to what that point of view might be:
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” Revelations 19:4-5 NASB
What is the atmosphere of heaven? Worship! From the least to the greatest, all the inhabitants of heaven are bathed in the glory of God and the glory of God elicits worship! So what does that mean for the believer who is stuck here on earth? It means we can create the same atmosphere found in heaven right where we are! The answer is so very simple. Worship God and you are in the atmosphere of heaven!
When our children were small and all nine of them were creating chaos for their mother, Melinda would simply begin crying out to God and worshiping Him…and more often than not, the children would respond to the peace it brought into our home. Melinda used to call them ‘praise breaks’…and she took them as often as necessary!
When my dad passed away, I was so overcome with grief that I did not know what to do…so I began to mourn to God…and the mourning began to take the form of worship to God. The result? Comfort and peace came over me. Why? Because I was suddenly transported to the atmosphere of heaven…and it dawned on me that what I was experiencing here on earth, my father was experiencing in heaven! How comforting is that?!
The bottom line is simple. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the atmosphere of heaven. We but have to surrender to God in worship and praise as we acknowledge His presence in our life and in the midst of our circumstances. The quickest way to heaven on earth? Praising God! Why? Get this: His Word tells us He is enthroned upon - sits down upon the thrones of our hearts - when we praise Him!
Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 NASB
Do you want a little heaven on earth today? Do you need a little heaven on earth today? Worship God.
Dennis Jernigan
To listen to a podcast on this subject and to hear the song “I Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven”, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/i-cant-wait-to-get-to-heaven/
Picture courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/22/14/31/worship-2775770_1280.jpg