In Sync with Heaven

In Isaiah 24 there are three verses that seem almost out of place with the rest of the chapter. But of course nothing is ever out of place in the Bible. There’s a reason why some things seem out of place or disconnected or even paradoxical. God is trying to teach us a lesson.

In verses 14-16 we see some people who are apparently out of sync with what is happening in the world around them. In the larger context of the chapter, destruction, disintegration, despair, and hopelessness are filling the earth. Yet in these verses the people of God lift their voices in praise and celebration, seemingly out of sync with their earthly surroundings.

Why is that? They are out of sync with the world because they are in sync with heaven. They are focused on heaven’s reality not earth’s reality. Yes, we must recognize and live in the reality of the world around us. The life of the saint is not one of denial or escapism. But as we walk in the midst of what is going on around us and as we face it full on, we draw from heaven’s treasures. We live in this world, but we are governed by heaven. We are to be in sync with heaven’s reality.

In verse 18 the prophet said: For the windows from on high are open, And the foundations of the earth are shaken. When shaking and disintegration are taking place in the earth, it is because heaven is opening up and preparing to invade the earth. Saints, in these days of confused situations, lift up your heads because your redeemer is drawing nigh. No, I don’t mean he is coming to rapture us out of the problems. I mean he is coming to bring heaven to us. Heaven is opening and his kingdom, power, and glory are being squeezed into earth and the kingdoms and systems of this world are shaking under the weight of the coming kingdom. Heaven’s reality will crush all other realities.

As the shaking continues, the hearts of many will be filled with fear. Others will be filled with increasing anger over their inability to stop the bleeding. Still others will hunker down and go into survival mode with weapons and stashes of food. Believers in Jesus Christ, however, must be in sync with heaven. Live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, not by the words that proceed out of the mouths of the news commentators and political pundits and fear mongers. God’s throne and God’s kingdom are not being shaken. While others are anguished, we will be praising and singing it is well with my soul! We are citizens of an unshakeable kingdom. Let’s live in that reality and take heaven’s atmosphere into a hopeless world.