Longing for Heaven
I don’t know about you, but I carry a deep longing for heaven. I long to be free from the chaos of this world—to experience perfect peace, complete order, and simplicity in its purest form. No more skinned knees. No more tragedy. No more loss. My heart aches for the peace and perfection found in the presence of God.
And yet, I never want to leave the beauty of this earth.
Despite its brokenness, this world is still filled with wonder. It is the only life I have known, and I am grateful for the life I have been given. So I can’t help but wonder: What if heaven is meant to touch earth? What if we are called to help bring it here?
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
He would not have instructed us to pray those words if they were impossible. So how do we participate in bringing heaven to earth?
I know I’m not the only one who longs for peace, healing, and restoration. Yet here we are, more than two thousand years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, still surrounded by division, suffering, and brokenness. Why?
Perhaps the answer is that we have not fully connected the dots. We know the commands, but we often fail to live them. We wait for change while neglecting to prepare the way.
John the Baptist called the people to “make straight paths for the Lord.” This was more than preparing a road for Jesus’ arrival. It was a call to prepare their hearts—to remove the obstacles that kept them from hearing and receiving the truth. John was inviting people to clear away the clutter, repent of what stood in the way, and make room for God’s presence.
In many ways, he was calling them back to Eden—to a life lived in close fellowship with God.
So this summer, let’s begin the work of unraveling the chaos, clearing away the confusion, and preparing the way of the Lord. Let’s examine our hearts, align our lives with His commands, and create space for His kingdom to take root.
I believe heaven comes to earth one surrendered heart at a time.
It won’t be easy. But together, step by step, we can make way for the King.
And perhaps that’s where it all begins not by forging our own path, but simply by following His.
Follow My Lead
Make It Personal:
John the Baptist called the people to prepare the way of the Lord by removing obstacles from their hearts. As you reflect on your own life, ask yourself, “What’s causing strain, stress, or chaos in my life, and how might God be asking me to make a straight path for him in the middle of it?”
Dig Deeper:
“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”” Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:19-21 NLT
“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” Ephesians 1:9-10 NLT