Looking Heavenward!
Looking Heavenward!
Jesus has always said to us, "Come all the way Home!"
We have always asked, "How?"
His answer has forever been the same. "Keep your eye on the goal! Keep your eye on the mountain peak! Don't stop, turn around, and look back! Keep your focus in heaven, not earth!"
In the New Testament we read that Jesus, with his focus in heaven, sees the divine plan. He is to be killed and raised again. Peter lapses into fear and begins to vent frustration and resistance. Jesus, knowing that Peter has been taken over by ego and is focusing on earthly concerns, bodily concerns, answers: "Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art a stumblingblock unto me; for thou mindest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matt. 16:23)
In other words, "Look heavenward, Peter!"
It is the same with us. We must not allow ourselves to be sidetracked by the legion of temptations promising salvation which the ego places into our line of vision. There is only one place to look for salvation ... heavenward.
But how do we know what is sidetracking and what is on the straight and narrow path to true salvation? In his modern day revelation, A Course in Miracles, Jesus tells us: "His Voice will direct you very specifically." (Chapter 1 Page 1) Yet the obstacle you create to hearing His Voice is your interest in a million and one earthly impulse items and curiosities, what Jesus 2000 years ago would have called "Satan's temptations," what Jesus in modern language calls "ego-vested interests."
In another New Testament incident a young man who has always followed all the commandments given by Moses asks Jesus what more he lacks, because he knows something is still missing. Basically Jesus tells him to take his focus off earth and look toward heaven: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matt. 19:21)
Then Jesus turns to his disciples and says, "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:30-34)
The sidetrack-desiring ego argues, "all paths lead to heaven," which is ultimately true because Jesus has gone before you and is with you always. But there is only one fastest path for each soul, while the number of temptations the ego presents can go on and on and on, as if the ego is an Energizer Bunny.
The device causing all delay in salvation is eagerness (or at least willingness) to consider worthwhile such things as earthly desires, curiosities, and a million and one ego-vested interests ... rather than steadfastly looking to heaven as the only worthwhile endeavor.
Old Testament stories, whether factual or embellished, are always symbolic of happenings inside yourself. The plain of Sodom and Gomorrah represents the focus on earthly temptations, pursuing earthly desires, and the state of the soul when one has been sucked into following ego-vested interests and curiosities. Going up the mountain is symbolic of pursuing closeness to God, having one's focus on God, looking heavenward. Two angels are sent on a rescue mission to guide Lot, and one of the angels tells him: "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plane; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." (Genesis 19:17)
Perhaps you are a veteran reader of A Course in Miracles who has spent years being so consumed as you have wandered around in the New Age maze never finding your way out. Your intent has always been admirable, but honesty is called for. Answer honestly how many lectures, workshops, seminars, classes, retreats, dances, and "methodologies" you have used to keep your vision on the body, on Mother Earth, and on so-called "healing" of mistakes, thereby delaying yourself from looking heavenward and surrendering into the experience of total and continuous unbelievable happiness. A truly enlightened one laughs joyously and bekons New Agers to leave behind their silly addiction to running to every new gathering to be aMAZEd ... and instead come all the way Home. In all honesty, pray for help in the vigilance of no longer sidetracking yourself.
Jesus speaks directly to New Age addicts in A Course in Miracles when he says: "Say to the Holy Spirit only, 'Decide for me,' and it is done. For His decisions are reflections of what God knows about you, and in this light, error of any kind becomes impossible. Why would you struggle so frantically to anticipate all you cannot know, when all knowledge lies behind every decision the Holy Spirit makes for you?" (Chapter 14)
Or maybe you are a member of one of the Assemblies of God or Charismatic Renewal churches and you have only recently found A Course in Miracles. You have long known the value of looking heavenward, yet still insist on giving lip service to the old habit of lowering your vision to see Satan, sin, immoralities, and transgressions. Have you lately attended church and experienced a powerfully spiritual musical or prayerful worship service "taking you out," followed by a pastor's sermon bringing your attention back down? Have you lifted your arms and eyes shouting "Praise you, Lord! I love you, Jesus! Fill me with your Holy Spirit!" only to have your minister later invite you to take your eyes off Jesus by babbling about evil influences?
Remind your pastor your salvation lies in keeping your eyes heavenward, keeping your attention in heaven on Jesus, not in earth on evil influences or mistakes. What you focus on, you magnify in your life. Here's how Jesus says it in A Course in Miracles: "You see what you expect, and you expect what you invite. Your perception is the result of your invitation, coming to you as you sent for it. Whose manifestations would you see? Of whose presence would you be convinced? Two ways of looking at the world are in your mind, and your perception will reflect the guidance you have chosen." (Chapter 12) Keep all your focus on Jesus and you will walk the earth while living in Heaven. Ask your pastor to altogether quit dwelling on anything "down here" ... and see what happens.
Possibly you are a student or a psychologist or a social worker who really loves Oprah Winfrey and you've been introduced to A Course in Miracles through Oprah. Oprah's emphasis on the heroic and on people who make positive contributions to the lives of others really inspires you. But you know there must be more. There must be a much broader picture than the picture painted by popular celebrities, authors and politicians. It is enjoyable to see Oprah shining light on bandaids and bandaid providers, but your spirit knows there must be a real world, a heavenly kingdom, beyond the illusory world of pain and temporarily overcoming pain which is shown to you on television.
Students study all their lives but do not lift their eyes out of books to discover the experience of unending happiness. Psychologists for years search the psyche finding fear, pain, and guilt but never raise their vision to encounter joy and peace everlasting. Social workers struggle frantically to apply bandaid after bandaid, but the sick keep getting sicker, and no one ever looks heavenward into ceaseless boundless healing love. Jesus tells us there is a better way.
In A Course in Miracles Jesus says: "How much do you want salvation? It will give you the real world trembling with readiness to be given you. The eagerness of the Holy Spirit to give you this is so intense He would not wait, although He waits in patience. Meet His patience with your impatience at delay in meeting Him. Go out in gladness to meet with your Redeemer, and walk with Him in trust out of this world, and into the real world of beauty and forgiveness." (Chapter 17)
The answer Jesus gives is always the same: "Your salvation cannot be found in this world. Come Home. Lift your eyes out of this world and into the real world, where the kingdom is yours to experience!"
The introduction to A Course in Miracles philosophically states:
But Jesus restates this in many ways. One such restatement echos His answer to the young man 2000 years ago, and invites you to commit to looking heavenward every moment of every day:
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