Heaven a Place on Earth

My kids have a way of confusing the mundane and the divine. Last night was no exception when, as we were discussing Isaiah 60, the kids thought of these words from that awful(ly), cheesy 80s pop song:

They say in heaven love comes first,
We'll make heaven a place on earth
Oh, Heaven is a place on earth.

Well there is indeed a connection between heaven and earth but much to Belinda Carlisle's disappointment, it has nothing to do with our. . . umm . .  . lovelife. It has everything to do with God's intention to establish his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The Bible paints a picture of Jerusalem's redemption in terms that are quite remarkable. As with many Old Testament prophetic passages, Isaiah 60 speaks of different future times and events within the same passage. We encounter, for example, in Isaiah 60 aspects of Jerusalem that come up again in Revelation 21. Elements that we typically assign in our minds simplistically to "heaven" as a sort of "spiritual", other-wordly place. The Bible seems to indicate frequently, however, that God intends to redeem and restore this creation and that Jerusalem will be the epicenter of God's ultimate redemption in the future. But the process has begun . . .

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
   and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
   and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
   and his glory appears over you. Isaiah 60:1-2

At Christmas we celebrated that the redemption has begun in Christ's birth--Immanuel. During Epiphany we celebrate God's revelation to the world of this fact. And today we take time to recognize that the arrival of the Magi was not a surprise to God. Nor was it primarily God's clever way to justify a holiday devoted to gift-giving. The Magi were a confirmation that the King had come AND that those who were paying attention could know it! 

Nations will come to your light,
   and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:3.

And all from Sheba will come,
   bearing gold and incense
   and proclaiming the praise of the LORD. Isaiah 60:6

It had been revealed to the Magi that the King had arrived. And where you have a king . . . you have a kingdom. Yes, we await the day of its consummation. And we pray as we were taught--"Thy Kingdom Come on Earth as it is in Heaven."  But today we celebrate that the King has arrived, He has inaugurated his kingdom, He has made it known, and best of all He has invited you, me, everyone.