A friend of mine sent me this reflection today, and it was so good I just had to share it:

On Sunday my pastor spoke about how in the life to come some of us would “rule over nations”: “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” (Rev 2:26)

I cringe at that thought and asked God to not give me a nation to rule over – that would not be heaven to me! Instead, I asked if I could just be in God’s presence in heaven and watch Him rule. A thought then arose in my mind (possibly God?) that asked me if I understood the level of honour I had requested. One of the highest levels of honour would be to be in God’s presence and watch Him at work. How blessed are the creatures who stand before God around the throne and say, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come” (Rev 4:8).

I replied, “That is what I desire. Tell me what I need to do to reach that level. That is my heart’s desire.” Then I thought, “I recognize I am not the holiest, so then what if heaven to me was reflecting/telling to others God’s greatness? Giving them His gifts or praying for them and blessing them in His name. I would love that, too.”

Later I realized some requirements for being in God’s presence:

  1. To live purely with no sin – God would not allow anyone in his presence with sin, without a cleansing of their soul. Entering the Temple required holiness (Ps 24:3-4)
  2. To follow his law (John 14:23-24)
  3. To walk in faith, to believe “that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb 11:6)

I felt God is saying that I don’t need to wait to Heaven for this to begin. I can do it now. I can see God at work now in the world. I can pray for others and bless them in God’s name now. I can give them His gifts for them now. Through Christ, I can live a righteous and sinless life now. I can follow His law now. I can walk in faith now.

His kingdom has come and I can begin it now.