Today’s Devotional: “Come, See, Experience”

After escaping the wrath of his brother Esau, Jacob was tired and laid down to sleep and it says, “He dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it … Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!’” (Genesis 28:12, 16-17)

Now, look at what Jesus said to Nathanael.

“I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)

Let’s not miss the significance of what Jesus said. Using the story of Jacob, by saying that the angels of God will ascend and descend upon Him, Jesus was saying that He was the ladder back in the story of Jacob.

What a beautiful picture this now becomes. Jacob called it the House of God, and that the Lord was there. This is the church. The Lord Jesus is present within the church. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Therefore, it is within the church as we gather to worship God and study His word that the gateway is opened between earth and heaven, as Jesus opens for us the realities of heaven while we’re here upon the earth. He is that ladder. Maybe this is why I love the name horizon, because it is the place where heaven and earth meet.

I also love what Jesus said should be part of our prayer life. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

This is why we invite people to come to church, to come and see for themselves, and allow them to experience the reality of God and of heaven for themselves.

Learn more about Nathanael and how Jesus reset His life in Sunday’s Message: