August 21: ASCENDING TO HEAVEN
And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. Revelation 11:12
From the day that our first parents sinned, the way to the tree of life has been lovingly guarded and preserved for us (Genesis 3:24). The word of God will still be true in eternity. The perfect standard will be honored by every citizen of heaven. The loud voice from heaven is meant to get our attention. It is the voice of the Lord, who says:
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
We have examples of those who wanted to ascend to heaven in their own power:
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4
For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:13-14
And out of one of [the four winds of heaven] came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily* [sacrifices, added by translators] was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Daniel 8:9-11
Getting to heaven is accomplished only in the power of God by His Spirit, and not by the might or effort of any created being. The words of God have a wonderful power to convict and purify for heavenly perfections the objects of His great love. The Bible identifies Jesus Himself as the Word of God (John 1:1-2, Revelation 19:13). While they watched, He [the resurrected Jesus] was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Acts 1:9). During His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly pointed to the written word, for it is the storehouse of instructions for learning to love God, resisting the temptations to sin, and for healthy living. Obedience brings increased understanding of our heavenly Father, sharpens our minds, increases our discernment, and refines our characters. All of this takes place on the earth, as God’s humble people live among the lost, for this is His design for transmitting heaven’s invitation “Come up here!” to everyone. All who love and believe the Giver of this invitation will regard His Word in its entirety above all earthly counsel. Your will and my will to live in obedience to this wonderful Word is a love-invitation to others!
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away. But the word of the LORD endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:22-25
*The daily includes partaking of His Word, fervent prayer, and witnessing to Jesus in the world (Acts 1:8), as illustrated for us in the sanctuary model: the table of showbread, altar of incense, and seven-branch lampstand of the Holy Place.