YOUR LADDER TO HEAVEN

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  (Genesis 28:12 NKJV)

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  (John 1:51 NKJV)

Bethel was a bleak highland in the heart of Canaan. The hill-sides and level downs were scattered with huge boulders. As he fled north, Jacob suddenly found himself overtaken by the swift eastern night while he was traveling over this desolate land. There was nothing for him to do but to lie down on the hard ground, taking one of the big stones as a pillow for his head. As he slept, he dreamed; and in his dream his mind wove together his last waking thoughts in fantastic medley. It seemed as if the big slabs of limestone came together, and built themselves into a gigantic staircase, reaching from where he lay to the starry heights above him; and on that staircase angels came and went, populating by their multitudes that most desolate region, and evidently interested in the sleeper who lay beneath.

Let’s think of that mystic ladder which is Jesus Christ our Lord, by which He descended to our humanity and ascended to the throne of God. He is "the way" by which "the sons of ignorance and night" can pass upward to the eternal light and love. Where are you? It may be on a desolate waste, in a ship's cabin, a settler's shack, in a humble cottage, in the crowded city, lying on a bed of pain in the hospital ward! Wherever you are, Jesus finds you out and comes just where you are. The one pole of the ladder is the gold of His deity, the other the silver of His humanity, which is placed against your life. Give to Him your burdens of sin and care and fear. "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not." "We have a mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." None of us is outside God's loving thought and care. There is always a linking ladder between ourselves and Heaven, and God's angels still pass to and fro, sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. Let’s see to it that we wait at the foot of the ladder to claim our share in the blessings which they bring to earth.

PRAYER

We thank You, heavenly Father, that from whatever place Your children seek You, there is a ladder reaching up beyond the stars to heaven; that Jesus is the way to Yourself, and we may come to You in Him; yes, You do come to us, and send Your angels to minister to our need, so that heaven is near to earth, with sympathy, help, and comfort.  In Your Son Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #53:
I put people who are lonely in families.

Psalm 68:6 (WEB)
God sets the lonely in families.
He brings out the prisoners with singing,
but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.