“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!” Psalm 22:7,8
A picture is painted for us of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ in the verses above. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took on flesh, and was born in a stable in Bethlehem. He lived a life of humility, of constant pain, of suffering, culminating in His enduring the very wrath of God against sin on a cross outside of Jerusalem! But Jesus Christ did not suffer in vain, or die in vain! On the third day, he rose from the dead, conquering sin, and death and hell for all those who would trust in Him for salvation! After 40 days on earth, Jesus ascended triumphantly into the glorious halls of Heaven!
From Heaven’s perspective, the doors are swung open so that the victorious King of glory may enter with great exultation!! The greatest battle that has ever been waged has ended, and Jesus Christ is the Champion from Heaven! Sin has ravaged all of human history – and death, the promised consequence of sin, has claimed every son and daughter of Adam and Eve throughout the long, dark history of humanity. Tears and sorrow and grief and pain have been the portion of every resident of this planet. But now, the gates of Heaven have swung open for the One who has conquered sin and death and hell!
The gates of Heaven have also swung open in this past week to receive the souls of some that we loved so, so dearly! We grieve the loss of these precious loved ones, but our tears are only for us!! Ben Smid and Harry & Mary Templeton have been carried by the angels to the portals of Heaven, where the golden gates have swung wide open to receive all those who are in Christ! They now experience in a way that we cannot begin to fathom, the wonder of the victory of Jesus Christ! And one day soon, we shall meet again, and then forevermore, we shall sing the wonders of our Saviour around God’s golden throne! May God richly comfort those who are mourning great loss this day, and may He use even these events to deepen our love for our great Saviour!