STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

While on a journey fleeing his brother like a fugitive, Jacob stops to rest for the night. Genesis 28 goes on to say, He lays his head on a stone, sleeps, and experiences an epic encounter. He dreamt he saw a ladder resting on the earth with it’s top reaching to heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Above it stood the Lord who said, “I am the Lord… All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” When he awoke, he realized the blessing of the Lord was in this place. Rather than rebuke for deceitfulness towards his brother the Lord gave him grace, an undeserved gift. The Lord blessed him with a vision of beauty and angels going to and coming from heaven. He must have known at that moment that God loved him even though he didn’t deserve it. That he didn’t need to run from God but to Him because He had already forgiven him, or else He would not have witnessed this awesome scene.

Then he anointed the stone where he laid his head by pouring oil over it and called it Bethel, meaning house of God in Hebrew.  A very elated Jacob vowed, “this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Jacob believed God and wanted to respond by giving back.

We cannot buy a stairway or ladder to heaven, nor can we earn it but God gave us a way to get to heaven in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:16 says the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Jesus is the seed of Abraham and Jacob. He is our stairway to heaven; the gate God has opened for all who believe in Him to enter into a new life. God came and met Jacob right where he was at just as He does you and me. Like Abraham and Jacob, you just have to believe it to receive it. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29

Do you wish to give back to God like Jacob? You can by giving with your time. Show children God cares for them by volunteering for the Ministry of Discovery Time. Apply today!

Laura Lawrence
Discovery Time Director