Read: Exodus 24:9-18
They beheld God, and ate and drank. (v. 11)
I tend to be restless in worship. My mind wanders. I check my watch. After an hour, I look for the exit. But I once attended a revival service that changed everything. The service was a cacophony of prayer and praise; laughter and weeping; shouting and dancing. In spite of my skepticism, I found myself drawn in. When I finally left, I looked at my watch. I’d been there three hours, yet it felt like no time had passed—I had temporarily stepped out of earthly time and space.
In Exodus 24, Israel assembles at Mount Sinai. God is in the process of calling them to be a nation of heaven’s ambassadors on earth. At the Lord’s invitation, Israel’s leaders ascend the mountain. The desert ground gives way to a pavement of sapphire. Time seems to stop. God furnishes a feast. They eat and drink in his presence. The Lord graciously draws them into heaven’s space and time.
The worship practices of the church offer experiences of heaven on earth. One of them is Communion. Describing it, the Heidelberg Catechism states, “Through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us, we are united more and more to Christ’s blessed body. And so, although he is in heaven and we are on earth, we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone” (Answer 76).
The next time you enter into worship, let the Lord draw you from your earthly place into his heavenly presence.
As you pray, quiet your heart and receive heaven’s invitation.
About the Author
Ben Van Arragon
Ben Van Arragon is a preacher and writer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He preaches and teaches the Bible in church, online, and anywhere else he has the opportunity.
