February 11, 2023
Transcending Heaven and Earth
“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” John 3: 12-15 (NASB)
Several years back after the death of our daughter, I was praying for comfort. I even asked the Lord what some may think was silly. I asked God to see my daughter Sara one more time. When Sara went into cardiac arrest at her home, she was without oxygen to the brain for 11 minutes. She never regained consciousness. She graduated to heaven 6 days later. Then, out of an act of grace God answered. I dreamt. My wife and I were walking through an old childhood neighborhood. As we were walking, Sara appeared behind us. I remember my actions and emotions vividly. I hugged her. I said I really missed her. Her response was something I never predicted. Her eyes were preoccupied. While we were crying and hugging her, she had another focus. She said, “Dad, I have to go now.” I cried some more, begging her not to leave us. She walked off and disappeared. I believe God answered. I can’t explain this dream or whether for sure it was God’s action, but I remember it. Clearly. God can do the impossible, but it must be within His nature and will. If He didn’t, He at least used a dream to encourage my soul…
When Jesus tells Nicodemus, “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven.” Nicodemus had a hard time believing the “earthly things” of the earth, Jesus explained. These “earthly things” aren’t earthly nature or worldly or sinful. [1] These apply to those things that occur on earth. Jesus knows them. And Jesus continues with, “heavenly things.” “Heavenly things,” apply to those things that take place in heaven like the deep secrets of the purpose of God in the matter of redemption. Jesus testified to both. No person has both. “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven:” He is final authority.
As I look at the verses above and compare them to my dream, I come to a partial conclusion. Sara never mentioned anything about heavenly things. She didn’t say anything that was to say I heard someone else from heaven. She merely said, “Dad, I have to go.” If God did allow this to happen, it was by His divine grace. Will He do it again? I asked already. The answer was “no,” He didn’t. The one thing that is sure is Jesus is in Heaven now and sees her. He died for her. He gave her life everlasting. She sees Him too. The Holy Spirit also sees me as a Christian. So, in essence, every time I commune with God, I too am in the presence of the One who sees her now. I believe that. I’m sorry if it sounds selfish, but it comforts my soul. She lives!
Today, when you commune with God, remember God is with our loved ones who know Christ as their Savior. Jesus told Nicodemus this. We too are with God, sealed by the Holy Spirit’s presence. We have a witness who sees them every day, and its good know they are in such great and awesome hands. So, take more time each day to commune with God, not by an act of selfishness to see your loved one(s) who have graduated to heaven, but because the One who gave it to me and you. He transcends all time and can share “heavenly things” with we who are on earth. He is the One who can transcend both heaven and earth, so trust Him.
[1] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Jn 3:12.