Day 22: A Glimpse of Heaven

Biblical Principle: Absolute Truth from God’s Word
God gives us a glimpse of heaven when He is about to reveal His plan for us. We must envision God and His realm before stepping into His divine plan.

In Genesis 28:12-15, we encounter a powerful vision given to Jacob:

"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."

Through this passage, God reveals a vision of heaven—a ladder bridging earth and the heavens, with angels ascending and descending. This profound moment shows us that God does not reveal His plans haphazardly. Instead, He first gives His children a glimpse of His divine power and presence, preparing their hearts and minds for His unfolding purpose.

A Vision Before the Mission

This principle reminds us that God's plans for us are deeply rooted in His eternal realm. Before Jacob could fulfill his calling to become the patriarch of a great nation, he had to see heaven’s connection to earth. He had to hear God’s promise directly.

Similarly, in our lives, we cannot enter God’s purpose for us without first capturing a vision of His presence and kingdom. This vision might not always come as a dream or a supernatural experience. It might come through His Word, prayer, or the Spirit speaking into our hearts. But the result is the same: We are drawn into awe and reverence for who He is and what He desires to do in and through us.

Practical Application: Walking With Purpose

How can we apply this truth to our daily lives?

We see an example in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. They were called with a deep desire to see and know Jesus. This longing transformed them. As Acts 4:13 states:

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

What marked the disciples wasn’t their education or worldly qualifications but their proximity to Jesus. Similarly, when people encounter us, they should recognize that we have been with Jesus. This is the outflow of catching a vision of God’s kingdom—it changes how we live, speak, and interact with the world around us.

In John 12:21, some Greeks came to Philip with a simple request:

"Sir, we would see Jesus."

This should be our heart cry for ourselves and others. Every decision we make, and every interaction we have should reflect the presence of Christ in our lives.

Living It Out

• Spend intentional time with God daily, seeking His vision for your life.

• Be bold in your faith, knowing God is with you wherever you go, just as He promised Jacob.

• Let your life be a testimony of His presence so that others may say of you, "This person has been with Jesus."

• Encourage others to seek and see Jesus through your words and actions.

Let us take heart from Jacob’s vision of the ladder and the disciples’ boldness. God is ready to reveal His plans when we seek Him with open hearts. Let us stay attuned to His leading and be faithful witnesses of His kingdom on earth.

Reflection Questions:

1. How has God given you a glimpse of His presence in your life?

2. What practical steps can you take today to reflect that you’ve “been with Jesus”?