March 10

John 1:51 (NIV)
51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

I do believe that we have to contextually interpret this scripture as we do others. This one seems to be specific to the disciples and even more specifically towards Nathanael. Here is the where the big however comes in, why couldn’t it apply to us today? Because why? Plenty of people through the centuries have seen heavenly things – ahh, but not you? So that is why it couldn’t happen – because it didn’t already happen? That is a pervasive and real doctrine of many Christians – but we are not of those. The only thing that the disciples saw that we can’t see is Jesus physically walking on the earth doing the “stuff” (advancing the Kingdom of God). We are not precluded from seeing an open heaven because Jesus isn’t here! As much as Jesus told His disciples that they would do greater things (John 14:12), and here that they would see greater things, I believe that applies to us as well. The hurdle for us, that is very doable, is that we have to seek it! It is the thirsty that get watered. When we give our lives to anything in the world we usually see results (business, fitness, scholastically…), how much more when we give ourselves to seeing an open heaven will we see heaven touching earth? Jesus clearly says, “ask and it will be given”. We have to ask ourselves, do we believe Jesus? If we believe, then we will expect to receive – we will plan on.

We are people of faith, vision and secure hope. We don’t waiver from believing for things that we have never seen. We are people who want an open heaven and believe that this promise applies to us today. We may not see them ascend and descend on the Son of Man, but we will certainly see the heavens open.