An Open Heaven?
FAITH and REVELATION
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
you will see the heavens opened*”
JOHN 1:51
How wonderful is the spontaneous response of Jesus to Nathanael’s heartfelt declaration “Rabbi, You are the Son of God!” An “open heaven” is really the ability of an individual to see and understand the things of God; to see past the appearance of a thing and to see the substance and reality of that which is real, eternal, and true. An open heaven is not available to us on the basis of our intellect, cleverness, or schooling. It is open to all on the substance of our Faith, Obedience, and Purity of heart.
FAITH and the Open Heaven
“By faith we understand…”
HEBREWS 11:3
Without the faculty of FAITH, the word remains sealed and uninviting. It holds facts and doctrinal statements that we may use to form a religious guideline by which we navigate this world with an understanding of its precepts. While there is a great benefit to be garnered by these we are merely sailing upon the surface of the waters of life that He has for us. We can study the scriptures and put together sermons based upon a topical analysis of them with some profit to the hearers. There remains however that hidden dynamic pulsating with the breath and life of the Son.
It is the precious function of FAITH to enable us to see THE SON in the reading of the WORD. While some see facts, concepts, and precepts others see and hear the Living God, and because of this, they are pilgrims and sojourners in a strange land. They feel the futility of man’s ways and efforts and the absolute necessity of why Christ was crucified. They know that without the branch abiding in the vine they will wither and die. They are no longer content to dwell and gather in temples made with hands for they have seen the “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”.
The Word is no longer a historical document, no longer an ethereal book that tells us of things to come after we die. For those who by FAITH survey its sacred pages it is THE TRUTH that is LIVING and RELEVANT TODAY. As it states in the Book of Hebrews “TODAY if you will HEAR HIS VOICE…” Those who are content with the status quo, the division and sectarianism, and the powerlessness of the religion of today, have not touched the heart and cry of the SON. Those who are not broken over the carnality, strife, emulations, and spiritual poverty of the North American Church have not felt the heart of the Son; that same Son who wept over Jerusalem and the fate that awaited her.
They could not see HIM of whom the scriptures spoke for they had not the faith of Abraham. Jesus said that “Abraham SAW HIS DAY and was glad”. Faith ever sees and beholds the Living Christ. An OPEN HEAVEN is the fruit and the recompense of the wonder of HIS FAITH living and breathing within our hearts.
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall SEE God…”
Ω
“The Bible without the Holy Spirit
is a sundial by moonlight“
DL Moody
*Spoken of the heavens, to open the heavens or to have the heavens opened or divided so that celestial things become manifest (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:21; John 1:51; Acts 7:56; 10:11; Rev. 19:11) SPIROS ZODHIATES (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament)
Brian Troxel
While “Tears In Heaven” was a wonderful choice to make the top 10 heavenly song list, many casual Eric Clapton fans are unaware of the number of other deeply spiritual/religous songs that he has either written/co-written or recorded. My personal favorite is: “Presence Of The Lord.” The lyrics are as follows: PRESENCE OF THE LORD By Eric Clapton fm. the CD “Blind Faith” I have finally found a way to live just like I never could before. I know that I don’t have much to give, but I can open any door. Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score. I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord. I have finally found a place to live just like I never could before. And I know I don’t have much to give, but soon I’ll open any door. Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score. I have finally found a place to live in the presence of the Lord. I have finally found a way to live just like I never could before. And I know I don’t have much to give, but I can open any door. Everybody knows the secret, I said everybody knows the score. I have finally found a way to live in the colour of the Lord. In the colour of the Lord. I wish the reader could her the music to these wonderful lyrics…it is absolutely beautiful and powerful. Could turn a sinner into a saint. Sone other Clapton recordings which he wrote include: Holy Mother – co-written with Stephen Bishop Give Me Strength – a prayerful song Heaven Is One Step Away Hold Me Lord Keep On Growing – co-written with Bobby Whitlock I want readers to know that this special man, who has known much suffering in his life, is deeply spiritual and begins & ends his days on his hands and knees in prayer.