Saturday, December 3

JACOB: STAIRCASE TO HEAVEN

Genesis 28:10-22

There are no shortages of books, methods, programs, and seminars, all telling us how to live the Christian life. How to find Gods purpose for your life, how to live your best life now, what you need to do, and what you need to know to be successful in everything. But nothing can be a substitute for a vision of God Himself. If Jacob wasn’t sure before about God's provision and care, and about all of those promises that were made to his grandfather way back when, we know that he was absolutely sure of it after this encounter with God.

We, who are born again as the children of God, are the inheritors and possessors of many great promises, even as Jacob was. We can read about these promises over and over again. We can hear others speak to us about these promises, like I’m sure Jacob did. But how awesome it is when we hear it from our Lord Himself. “How awesome is this place!” Our great desire and longing is for times of communion with our Lord that we may hear from Him. In that isolated place, far from home, with just some stones for his pillow, Jacob heard directly from the Lord. It was a time and place of God's own choosing.

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…” Sometimes we can feel like God is so very far away. I think of times especially while camping out and gazing upward at the starry night sky. The immensity and majesty of God are intensified, along with our own insignificance. It’s in these times of apprehending God, and our great need of restoration and union with Him, that God Himself comes to confirm His word—a word which He has already given to us. A connection is made between heaven and earth. And we can say with Jacob, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” I did not know it, but now I do. God made it real. We must not be satisfied without this kind of faith. A faith that is anchored in God as He really is, and will not waver in the midst of tribulation.

We also see God's messengers ascending and descending. Ascending to God to receive from Him. Returning, as an expression of His nature, and to carry out His purposes. To comfort, encourage, and protect. To teach, preach, and proclaim truth. To bring to remembrance the goodness of God. To worship Him and give Him glory. “This is none other than the house of God …

… and this is the gate of heaven!” John 10: 9—“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”. Jacob was given a vision of Christ. He became, and now is, that stairway for us. John 5: 39-40—“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life." John 14: 6—Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

~ Jim Krauser