On Earth as It Is in Heaven
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
It’s pretty common for me to use the phrase, “pushing back the Fall” when I’m preaching or teaching. This is one privilege we have as God’s children – being God’s hands and feet on this earth. He uses us to bring healing and light. In God’s providence, we are daily given opportunities to make the earth more like how God intended it to be when he first created it.
I’ve been struck by the line in The Lord’s Prayer, “as it is in heaven.” In the context of the prayer, Jesus is speaking on how God is sovereign – that his will is done on earth and in heaven. This reminds us of the great ache we all have – the ache of longing for a home we aren’t yet in, but standing in this place, forgiven, called to advance his kingdom on earth. Already given grace. . . not yet fully restored to glory.
As it is in heaven.
Longing for things to be as God intended is part of the human experience, even for those who can’t name that. We all inherently understand this world is broken, and that it feels inherently wrong. And it’s so much easier to look at the world as broken, forgetting that we are, too.
The language we continue to hear in this world is “us vs. them.” This could be referring to a political party, of men vs. women or those in power and those oppressed by them. It also sometimes used to label Christians and non-Christians. This kind of language continues to divide us, further developing a narrative that “if you are not on ‘my side’ then you are against me.” Or perhaps, “If you don’t agree with me, you are against me.”
When Christ came to live on this earth and show the world a new way forward, he broke down the dividing wall of hostility. From Ephesians:
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (2:13-16)
So to use “us vs. them” language is the opposite of what Christ came to do in this part of our lives. We do not all have to agree, but it is wise for us to work together. To seek to understand one another better. To be curious and learn what others are experiencing and thinking as they walk through this world.
When you are willing to take this posture of understanding one who seems like they are on the “other side”, you’d be surprised at how much you have in common with them.
This is part of how we help heal the brokenness in the world. “As it is in heaven,” God’s will is for us to be reconciled to him AND to one another. But it must start within our own hearts. This is how revival begins, in the heart of the person who recognizes that they are forgiven and are meant for more. Yet before the “more,” we must stand here on earth and call God’s kingdom down to be part of the Jesus redemption story.
