Joy in Heaven

“In your presence there is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11)

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” (Luke 3:21-22)

The dependent attitude that the Lord Jesus showed in prayer brought joy to heaven. His life of prayer was like an altar from which incense was constantly rising (see Ps. 141:2). Proverbs 15:8 explicitly states that the prayer of the upright is acceptable to God. What an incentive for each of us to be more in prayer before God!

At the same time, the Father rejoiced that His Son—the only sinless man on earth—made Himself one with repentant sinners in the Jordan river. This is no different today. God rejoices when we do not go through life self-righteously, but humble ourselves and become one with those who repent.

The Son of God never did anything to get glory from men (see John 8:50). The Father honored Him, and that was enough for Him (see John 8:54). We see this especially in connection with His baptism and the time when He was transfigured on the mountain in front of His disciples.

Both times He prayed and both times the Father publicly testified from heaven about His Son and commended Him before men. To His disciples the Lord said: “If anyone serves me, he must follow me… If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26)—a word that’s also directed to our hearts!

It’s interesting that Luke, who mentions the Lord’s prayer at His baptism, reports that the Father addressed Him personally from heaven—and did not speak about Him as Matthew records. In Luke’s account He said: “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). The Son spoke to the Father and the Father to the Son. Prayer brings God into life’s circumstances—and through this we have fellowship with Him.

In the Old Testament, Moses entered into the most holy place in the tent of meeting (a picture of heaven) where he spoke with God—and God with him (see Num. 7:89). Through the work of the Lord Jesus every believer today already has access to heaven. The way into the sanctuary and into the presence of God is always open to us (see Heb. 10:19)!

We don’t have to wait until the rapture or the time of our death in order to enter heaven. We already have the opportunity now, every day, to go by the Spirit in prayer to the “throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). How do we appear there? As those who are brought into favor in the Beloved (see Eph. 1:6 JND)—and on whom, therefore, all the good pleasure of God rests!

Are you aware that there’s joy in heaven if you get down on your knees with a sincere heart, here on earth? Is there anything that prevents you from exercising the great privilege of ‘entering’ the ‘open’ heaven? What can help you to enjoy fellowship with God in prayer more consciously, and thereby spark joy in heaven?

J.P.S.