Introduction
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
– Matthew 6:9-10
In Jesus’ well-known discourse, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29), he instructs his followers to pray for God’s will to be done on earth, in essence for the conditions in heaven to permeate the earthly realm. ‘Bringing heaven down’ so to speak, should be the prayer of everyone who honors God and especially those who truly follow Christ Jesus.
But bringing heaven down is a formidable task. There is so much turmoil in today’s world that it hardly seems possible. It is no wonder so many Christians believe the only way God’s will can be done on earth is for God to first destroy everyone and everything apathetic or in opposition to Him. They believe God has given up on man’s ability to correct his ways and has determined that the vast majority are worthy of destruction. But is that true?
Has our heavenly Father decided that destruction is the only way to achieve His will on earth? Has He determined that the good news of the kingdom Christ Jesus lived and died for will simply not have worldwide appeal after all? Has God lost the battle for souls and is throwing in the towel so He can start all over again? Has His patience run out after only 2,000 years? Is worldwide destruction really God’s will?
Or is it possible that there is another way to bring heaven down? Is there something man can do to prevent a worldwide calamity and assure that God wins the battle? We believe it is both possible and probable. We have an example of that very thing in the story of the Ninevites as told by the prophet Jonah. Whatever your personal view, we invite you to consider another possibility – another way God’s will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.
