For the Least of Theseનમૂનો

Day Two: Where Is Heaven?

I love writing in my Bible and highlighting the parts that stand out to me. When I read Matthew 25, here are the words that stand out to me:

But when the Son of Man comes. V31

All the nations will be gathered. V32

He will separate the people. V32

Inherit (experience) the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. V34

The King will say.. when you did it to one of the least of these.. you did it for me. V40

This is how I would summarise the words that stood out to me:

There is a kingdom that has been established since the beginning of the world, and God wants everyone to experience it. But the only ones who do are the ones who take care of the poor, marginalised and the vulnerable.

Many years ago at a Hillsong Conference we partnered with Nike who were creating a shoe for disabled athletes. We thought it would be great to give everyone the opportunity to pay it forward and purchase one of these shoes for every child in a disabled school in Capetown, South Africa. Incredibly, we raised enough for several hundred students. My wife, Julia, got to be part of a small delegation who travelled there to fit all the students with these amazing Nike shoes. The way Julia tells the story is that she has never felt the presence and pleasure of God in a greater way than at that school during that few hours of helping some of the most vulnerable people she has connected with.

What if heaven wasn’t only a place you go to when you die? What if heaven was also God’s Kingdom being experienced here on earth?

When Jesus taught us to pray He said, “your kingdom come, your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.” (The Lord’s Prayer, Matt 6:9)

When we put our trust in the faithfulness of Jesus and all He has done to give us eternal life, He dwells in us by His Spirit. This means the Kingdom of Heaven is not just out there somewhere, but it’s also right here, within us.

A challenging question I often ask myself is, do people get to experience heaven because of the way I live here on earth?

People should be able to experience a little of heaven without leaving earth!

Q: What kind of heavenly experience do people get from being around your life everyday?