Made In Heaven

I remember when I was growing up reading the label on many things that said “Made in Japan.”  Of course that was in the 1970’s and we thought that items they produced were of inferior quality.  In time, the Japanese have overcome the stigma of the 70’s and have become known for manufacturing good quality electronic products.

Today we see “Made in China” on many items, as it seems they manufacture anything and everything.  Typically, their label is not seen as high quality.  It is likely when you see “Made in the USA” you may feel a sense of confidence that the level of quality is better.  But this is not an article about imports and exports.  This is about something else entirely.

I was reading a label on a clothing item and at first glance I thought it said, “Made in Heaven.”  It made me smile, and then I looked at it again. Yes, I may need new glasses soon. After giving it some consideration, though, I started to think about what exactly that would mean, “Made in Heaven.”  For starters, every human being is “Made in Heaven,” right? Just suppose we came with a visible label when we were born that said, “Made in Heaven.”  I wonder if that would change how we lived.  

The Bible says that we are made in God’s image and He’s in Heaven, so it would make sense that we actually are “Made in Heaven.”  If I’m “Made in Heaven,” might I not respect my body more?  And would I not watch what enters my body more closely, treating it as if God made it and asked me to take care of it? And would I not want to return it to Him in the best possible condition, taking into consideration the wear and tear of age?  Would I not respect and appreciate my body more, knowing the label is true?  Might I start liking all the parts He made and not fighting with others? Maybe I would not look at other people with envy.  Maybe I would really appreciate the thought and care that went into my handmade body by God.  And maybe if I believed this, really believed this because the label said so, maybe I would stop beating myself up. And don’t you think bullying would be less if people really understood that?  It would be like you would consider something God made inferior.  And isn’t that exactly what bullying is?  

And this would not just include our physical body, but our intellect, our personality, all emotions, quirks and idiosyncrasies.  Everything, Lord, thank you for making me 100% the way you chose.  I am “Handmade by God in Heaven.”  That is a pretty powerful label and He would like us all to wear it.

If our label says, “Made in Heaven,” and I believe for each and every one of us it does, might we not be getting on with why we are here on planet Earth?  And stop getting so sidetracked by what needs fixing.  We were planned, we were put here for a purpose, God has works that only we can do, and He has equipped up for those very things.  And we were “Made in Heaven.” 

The difference between human beings and the Japanese is that we have always been supreme quality.  Possibly we have believed the lie that we were inferior to some other human beings for how they were put together.  We carry the label, “Made in Heaven” and that has always come with His “Most High” brilliance, imagination and creativity. We have come right from His mind’s eye, if you can even imagine the God of the universe designing the many details that it took to assemble us.  I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that even though it is true.

Wouldn’t it be great to hear this public service message on all media:  “You were ‘Made in Heaven,’ just like your label says. Remember that as you go about your day.  God made you in His image.  Heaven produces only the best quality. If in doubt, check your label. And don’t forget to tell others to check their label, too.”

Rest

As I sit down and contemplate the goodness of God today, I have found a new level of amazement.  He has been instructing me in ways I’m not accustomed to and the results are beyond where I thought they would go.

I have given it all over to Him, including my worries, my concerns and my will.  There are situations that I have no control over and He has said,” Let them go, I’ve got this.” So I let them go, trusting that He will once again multiply the fishes and the loaves.  I have been instructed to pray in the Spirit all the time and especially when certain “topics” come up in my mind.  I am watching Him transform the lives of the people around me whom I love as I give up control and speak to the Lord in tongues.  

As I speak in tongues and don’t get consumed by the emotions of the situation, something takes place in the heavenlies that is nothing short of miraculous. Tensions die down, success comes and new understandings are opened up.  I remain in peace and rest the whole while.  

Matthew 11:29-30 - “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

His Word is true once again.  

My goals to remain in His rest.  I would not have the “English” words to speak over my situations that would move things in the heavenlies, but using the words that the Lord is giving me in the Spirit has turned the tide.  I say this as I sit in awesome amazement— and I will admit, partial disbelief.  

I am being instructed not to “try and make it happen” but instead to rest.  And to know that He’s got this.  As a person who has always been moving and trying new things, well, this is new.  I have to admit I am liking the rest.  Not a rest like in a lazy sense but rest as in surrender to Him.  I am resting and also more confident than ever that more is being accomplished than if I “helped” Him.  

I held a 9-month old baby during part of the service at church about a month ago.  He was a good baby and he was a squirmer.  I tried to “entertain” him to keep him content. Although he was not unhappy he just liked to squirm.  I could hear the Lord telling me, “That is you; I want you to just settle down and let Me love you.” If that baby would have known how much love I had to give him, he would have snuggled close and cuddled up to rest, too.

Using the baby, I believe the Lord was giving me a preview of what He had for me if only I would submit and “let Him love me.”  Well, the “squirm” is gone out of me and I just want this new rest I have found as I speak in the tongues of angels.  

I traded my striving, anxiety and worries for contentment, peace and rest.  It’s not logical or easy to comprehend but I’m okay with that, I sure like the results.

Don't take the bait

I found myself in a situation that I did not expect.  I was minding my own business and the furthest thing from my mind was someone from my past.  With no effort on my part I found out some really “good” gossip about them. It was someone who had thrown me under the bus in the past, seemingly to their advantage.  When I tell you I was innocent in how I found out the information I could not be more truthful.

When wanting revenge on someone this bit of news was like gold.  And then the trap was set.  It was a test and temptation at the same time, and instinctively I knew it.  Initially, I just sort of tossed it around in my mind thinking, “What am I going to do with this?”  It was good stuff.  I could hear God distinctly saying, “Leave it alone, don’t take the bait.”  And I could hear the other side— whether that was me or Satan—saying, “You’ve waited a long time for this…Do you know how much mileage this will get you?....Just tell so-and-so….etc.” God never changed even in the 110^th time I thought about it, no matter how I looked at it. He always said, “Leave it alone.”  I knew it was a test.  

Knowing it was a test should have been the end of the argument but it wasn’t that easy.  I’m glad to tell you that in the end I did leave it alone, as I told no one.  The Lord is growing me up spiritually and in all honestly, I don’t think even a year ago I could have passed this one.  I examined it like it was something sitting in the center of a glass table.  I would not touch it but I would look at it from all angles, trying to figure out a way to be able to use it to my benefit without going against God and getting stuck in the trap.  I spent several days wanting to be able to find a loophole but it was air tight, and the only answer was to keep quiet.  

More than a week has gone by and I can tell you I’m so very glad that I listened to God.  Today, I actually feel sorry for the person.  They only hurt themselves.  And I was set up to go down the trail with them.  What I really can’t believe is that I am praying for them and for a solution to their behavior.  

Please don’t think I think I’m so spiritual. This was not easy and I hope I didn’t make it sound like it was.  I did the right thing but it did not feel like the right thing in the beginning.  It was several days before I wasn’t thinking about it constantly.  And then a couple more days of numbness, now finally I can see that it was in EVERYONE’S best interest for me to keep it quiet.  

The following two Scriptures are the same.  This is not an error on my part.  I find it interesting God would record it in the Bible twice, the very same Proverb.  That is, unless He really needed to reinforce, as He knew how important the it was.  

Proverbs 18:8 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs 26:22 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

In the book of Daniel, God the Father is called, “The Ancient of Days.” His name means in the beginning He “was.” Since day one He “was.” Since the creation of time He “was.”  He has seen it all and will be the judge of it all.  He did not miss a thing; He did not forget a thing, not one detail.  He will not at any time abdicate His throne.  And on the last “day,” as we know it, He will still be the same.  So here is my point.  He saw the number of times I was thrown under the bus and He saw me pass on the biggest piece of gossip ever offered my way, and the opportunity for revenge.  He is a fair judge and I am leaving it up to Him, whatever He does with it in the end.  

For me today, I didn’t take the bait, I am free.  Here is one of my favorite quotes.

“Better to shun the bait then struggle in the snare.”  - William Blake

In moments like this His word is so profoundly real to me.  To love someone in this case may have meant just “covering” my mouth.

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (emphasis mine)