Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The Bible begins with God creating the heaven and the earth. What follows are the generations of people, starting with Adam and Eve.

God revealed himself to his creation because he wanted them to know who he is, He is the Lord God in heaven above, and also on the earth below. There is no other God beside him. (Deuteronomy 4:39)

Because he is the only true God, the first of the commandments is to have no other gods at all. The second commandment forbids the making of a graven image in the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath. (Deuteronomy 5:7,8)

Heaven above, and the earth beneath: Psalm 102:19 pictures God looking down from the height of heaven above to behold the earth beneath.

When we think of heaven, we look up. Heaven is above, as the Bible pictures it, and we are living on the earth beneath.

Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to teach the Word of God in the temple. The Pharisees saw him and wanted to know who he was and where he came from. He said to them:

“You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

Did Jesus really come down from above? As Jesus spoke these words, there were many who believed. (v.30)
Ray Palmer, in his beloved hymn, declared: “My faith looks to Thee.”