by Rev Douglas Brauner

Our God Remains Enthroned in Heaven

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“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you.”
Psalm 73:25 English Standard Version

The concept of heaven seems to have disappeared from our world. Whether it’s because of science or our struggle to believe that there is anything beyond what we can sense, many people believe that heaven (whatever that might be) is only a thing of fairy tales.

The consequences have been devastating to humanity. If there’s no heaven than there’s very little that we can put our trust in that is greater than we are. There is no rock to which we can turn, no fortress in which we can find shelter. We’re overpowered by our skyscrapers and our sprawling cities. We feel insignificant, unimportant, and forgotten.

The person who wrote Psalm 73 could identify with these feelings. He was overwhelmed by the “success” of those who had it all, who didn’t need God, a feeling reflected in our society.

However, he will not forget that God is in his heaven and as a result, the psalmist will not desire anything on earth but his God. No human success story was greater for him than knowing the love of God.

God hasn’t changed. He is still enthroned in heaven. It doesn’t matter whether human beings believe it or not. God doesn’t depend on what we think of him, yet we are utterly dependent on him. As the world seems to be filled with fear, hopelessness, and grief, our hearts desire is for the God who is above all in his heavens.

This God has made himself known to us. His gift to us came in the form of a human, in Jesus. We can grasp who God is because this God became visible, tangible, and walked among us. This God even experience death for us on a cross formed by us.

It’s through Jesus that we understand that we have a God in heaven whom our souls desire even as we live here. God hasn’t left the building.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado