In the fantasy-drama Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella heard a mysterious voice whispering from his cornfield: “If you build it, he will come.” In time, Ray realized the voice was calling him to build a baseball field among his rows of cornstalks. When he built the ball field, major-league baseball players from the past miraculously emerged from the remaining cornstalks to play ball.
Ray was surprised to find that one of the players was a 20-something version of his deceased father, John. He’d experienced a falling out with his dad before his death and the two never reconciled.
As they reconnected and began to experience healing in their relationship, John looked around and asked, “Is this heaven?” Ray shook his head and said, “No, it’s Iowa.” John looked around and replied, “Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.”
Ray then asked John, “Is there a heaven?” John smiled and said, “Oh yeah. It’s the place where dreams come true.” Pausing to reflect on the dreams coming true all around him, Ray replied, “Maybe this is heaven.”
Ray struggled to grasp that heaven might be in his Iowa cornfield. He couldn’t imagine heaven and earth coming together. But that’s exactly what God has promised to ultimately do: “Bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:10). And He’s saved us to share in His work today (Ephesians 2:10).
Heaven merges with earth when relationships are restored, wrongs are made right, enemies are loved, or the poor are cared for. And when Jesus returns, the world will be freed from death and decay, sorrow and pain (Romans 8:20-21; Revelation 21:1-5).
What we think about heaven affects how we live for God today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 13:21-38
More:
Read Matthew 6:10 and consider what Jesus said about His kingdom.
Next:
How can we use our words and deeds to bring a little bit of heaven to the broken world around us? What do you think about heaven and earth?
Gary Shultz on September 13, 2016 at 6:13 am
Hi Jeff, it seems that heaven still has much mystery left. The great thing to the believer is that it is promised by God, so it is as real as the ground we stand on. Heaven stays between the mysterious and the promised. Most people believe that there is a place like heaven sort of like throwing coins in a wishing well, it’s a nice thought and with some well-wishing most nice people will go there. It’s an after thought to life, a send off after death. I would hope for the believer heaven is many real things as you have described. Once again my question is how deeply do we really believe in heaven or is it some foggy concept we will eventually float into. It’s home, the place God is welding together for He and us to stay forever, like He had originally planned. His home will become our home the small things we treasure here will be road dust compared to life in heaven. Why not be living here with our gaze toward there. Thanks Jeff
gagirllive on September 13, 2016 at 7:58 am
Hi, Jeff. It’s so cool to find redemptive analogies within secular movies as you’ve beautifully done here. I love looking for that, although it’s become harder to find these days with all the junk out there. Guess we’ll have to stick with the classics like this one. 🙂 Jeff, I think this is what Jesus was talking about in His sermon on the mount. He was saying this is what Kingdom life is like—this is how he uses us to bring a little bit of heaven to this fallen earth. In the beatitudes we especially learn that Kingdom life begins with the right view of ourselves—“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 3). Heaven converges with earth every time that truth is revealed to someone, resulting in a transfer of kingdoms in their life. I love how Paul laid it out in Ephesians —that while we are still on earth we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ—heaven and earth converging once again for us. Of course the ultimate revelation of heaven coming to earth is Christ Himself—Immanuel. He was being revealed little by little down through the ages, reaching His climax at Calvary. But the consummation of the ages is still to come—that glorious coronation of Christ our King—when He unifies all things and rules over His everlasting Kingdom. Hallelujah! What a day of rejoicing that will be. Lord, hasten the day! Thanks for this, Jeff. Grace and peace to you, brother.
samgaskill on September 13, 2016 at 10:37 am
Well said Gagirl!! I am also reminded of the Beatitudes! Many years ago as a new follower of Christ I read Billy Graham’s “The Secret of Happiness”, a simple and profound book expounding on poverty of spirit, persecution, meekness, etc. I’ve since given many of these books away to believers in every stage of maturity. The Sermon on the Mount is a personal favorite and I couldn’t agree more that Heaven converges with earth every time God’s will is done! Blessings to you friend!
Tom Felten on September 13, 2016 at 8:17 am
Good thoughts, bro. As you’ve often said, the acts of love and restoration God allows us to live out today are foretastes of the future when He’s made all things new. So looking forward to that day!
godlove on September 13, 2016 at 9:05 am
Very beautiful picture of heaven merging with Earth you painted here, Jeff: “Heaven merges with earth when relationships are restored, wrongs are made right, enemies are loved, or the poor are cared for.” As believers, I think we should always strive to bring a foretaste of heaven to this Earth in this manner, even in little ways, using the gifts and capabilities that the Spirit confers upon us. This not only makes our life here on Earth a more joyful and fulfilling one, but also shows the world a tiny hint of what our Lord has in store for us in heaven. Thanks for this great devotional today, Jeff. Blessings to all.
samgaskill on September 13, 2016 at 10:46 am
So blessed by this devotional today! In fact I’d like to say that every time I visit this site I come away feeling that the central theme of God’s love and offer of forgiveness takes center stage. I’m grateful for the focus on loving God and loving others that is clearly in the hearts of writers and readers here. The picture of Heaven merging with earth whenever the will of God is done….wow……just so blessed by this statement! I’m going to look for a picture that will remind me of this statement….and hang it in different areas as a reminder that everything we do or say or even not say, has the potential to bring a bit of Heaven to earth! Thank-you to everyone in this lovely forum! Mary
sandy229 on September 13, 2016 at 10:55 am
Here’s a song that seems fitting for today’s devotion…..you can listen to it at Worship.com 🙂
Verse 1
I have a home, eternal home
but for now I walk this broken world
You walked it first, You know our pain
but You show hope can rise again from the grave
Chorus
Abide with me
Abide with me, don’t let me fall
And don’t let go
Walk with me
And never leave
Ever close, God abide with me
Verse 2
There in the night,
Gethsemane before the cross
Before the nails, overwhelmed
Alone You prayed, You met us in our suffering
And bore our shame
Chorus
Bridge
O love that will not ever let me go!
Love that will not ever let me go!
You never let me go!
Love that will not ever let me go!
Verse 3
And up ahead eternity
We’ll weep no more and sing for joy
Abide me me
We’ll weep no more and sing for joy
Abide with me!
Chorus
Abide with me
Abide with me, don’t let me fall
And don’t let go
Walk with me
And never leave
Ever close, God abide with me
Ever close, God abide with me
Ever close, God abide with me
Bridge
hsnpoor on September 13, 2016 at 11:36 am
I looked at that baseball field and the caption of this devotion and thought, huh? After reading the actual devotion, I saw that baseball field with new and appreciative eyes. But, when I think of what God has revealed of the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation, it takes my breath away! I went back to read the description in Rev. and I’m literally panting. Thank you, Jeff, for giving us a real vision of what Heaven looks like now, on this earth. I pray that we may all be effective harbingers of merging Heaven with this earth, until Jesus returns.
porbeagles4life on September 13, 2016 at 11:52 am
It’s so simple to add a little heaven here on earth. Random acts of kindness is my favorite, or just honestly adding something positive to someone’s day. An example: I was paying my cell phone bill earlier. The representative was going to show me options for an upgrade and when I asked her a question she could not answer, she replied,”This is only my fourth day and I don’t know. I’d have to ask.” I think she expected me to be frustrated, or annoyed, but instead, I replied,” I really appreciate your honesty. It’s so much better to say ‘I don’t know than to pretend you know the answer’. The new employee just beamed, and I winked at her supervisor , to kind of say, “This is a good one.” So many people can be rude to employees who “don’t know”. I give them a chance instead.
sandy229 on September 13, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Random acts of kindness are always good 🙂
samgaskill on September 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Everyday we are given opportunity to demonstrate what is in our hearts! Does it represent God’s lovingkindness? What comes out of our mouths represents the current condition of our heart! Matthew 6:45…… “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”. I believe these small acts of kindness; treating others as we would like to be treated in no small way can demonstrate Heaven’s way here on earth! God bless you and encourage all of us to love well as we speak words that edify and do not tear down; choosing mercy and grace instead of impatience and lack of kindness. Help us Oh Lord!
Jeff Olson on September 13, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Good comments all! Heaven coming to earth moments are rich and powerful, even the smallest of ones. What a great story porbeagles for life! When we offer help to a person in need; choose forgiveness over retaliation; put people before issues or inconveniences; care for the least of these in the world; create music that touches the soul, write a blog post to inspire deeper thought and awareness of greater matters, paint pictures to express and celebrate goodness and beauty, teach with dedication and compassion that sets students up to learn and grow, manage the oceans, acting as wise stewards of the world’s vast resources; in all of these sorts of things we are partnering with Jesus in announcing and bringing little, yet meaningful tastes of God’s saving, healing heavenly presence and rule into the broken world of today that will one day fully come when He returns.
street on September 13, 2016 at 1:26 pm
heaven and God are a mystery, yes, a mystery that is revealed in the cross of Christ. a place where heaven and earth meet.
youssef1777 on September 13, 2016 at 2:01 pm
YES HE WILL. I HAVE STRONG FAITH IN THAT . JUST KEEP PRAY TRUST IN HIS WORD AND OBEY . I LOVE MY LORD JESUS CHRIST . GOD BLESS ALL .
youssef1777 on September 13, 2016 at 2:39 pm
WHEN YOU TRY TO REBUKE A PERSON YOU THINK WHAT HE DID IS WRONG . FIRST PRAY TO THE LORD TO GIVE THE WISDOM WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY . GOOD WORD CAN CORRECT THAT PERSON . YOUR WORD MUST LET HIM SEE YOU CARE ABOUT HIM . GOD BLESS ALL .
youssef1777 on September 13, 2016 at 2:48 pm
SOME TIME GOD PUT YOUR FAITH IN A TEST . IT IS NOT THAT YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG . PRAYERS CAN HELP YOU TO LET PASS THE TEST AND MAKE YOUR FAITH STRONGER . THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU SHOULD COMFORT YOU NOT TO HIT YOU . GOD BLESS ALL .
minkjh on September 13, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Your closing statement sums it up perfectly, Jeff. A faithful brother once put it this way: ‘If heaven is your destination, then heaven should be your motivation.’
sandy229 on September 13, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Wow, that is good, I really like that!! ‘If heaven is your destination, then heaven should be your motivation.’
Shalom minkjh