Bringing "Up There" Down Here

I read something this morning that caused the hair on my arms to stand up. I get excited when people start talking seriously about the impact of the local church on the world. I get excited when hundreds of PCC folks spill into local neighborhoods to share themselves with the residents. I get excited when people invite their friends to church to just check things out. I get excited when the Holy Spirit is free to do His thing in the hearts of people because of the impact of one of our dramas or music pieces. I get excited when we gather at the river to see public declarations of individual decisions to become a Christ-follower, evidenced through baptism.


I get excited to see God work - because He changes people, He changes families, He changes relationships, He changes schools, He changes communities.


He's working here, and elsewhere.


Rob Wegner of Granger Community Church tells this story (emphasis mine):

"Yesterday, a religion reporter from the Wall Street Journal called. She's writing a piece on the local church and social action. In particular, she's looking for the stories of ordinary man and woman who have experienced a short term mission trip and came back with their worldview and lifestyle altered. She wants to meet people who came back and began engaging the poor and marginalized on a regular basis in their own community...

At one point, I told her, "We summarize our vision in a short mantra. We are bringing "up there" down here. We are orthodox evangelical Christians. We believe in eternal realities. But, billions live in hell on earth, right now. Jesus has called us not just to a home in heaven some day. He has called us to bring the life of heaven into life here on earth. When the "good news" of Jesus comes to a community, every level of human existence is elevated."

Praise GOD that we are equipped and able to bring "up there" down here! I repeat - 'when the good news of Jesus comes to a community, every level of human existence is elevated'.

What are you doing today to bring the life of heaven into life here on earth?