Between heaven and earth

The very first words of the Bible lead us into a great mystery. Two spaces emerge - two spheres that shape our lives: heaven and earth. They belong together, and yet they are separate.

We are familiar with this separation. We experience it in a physical way when we look up at the clouds from the ground or look around an airplane. The sky appears high up, far away, and yet it is not simply emptiness. Even if there are countless kilometers between our home and the stratosphere, our life on earth is closely connected to the sky.

The book of Genesis already makes it clear how much the processes of our earthly life are determined by what happens in the sky. The sun and moon regulate our daily routine, providing orientation and structure. And when we consider that they too are only small components of a huge system - embedded in galaxies and cosmic orders - we get an idea of how great the Creator must be who brought all this into being. The creation story is far more than a poetic introduction. It tells of the birth of the cosmos from the creative power of a God who loves life and creates beauty.

But the Bible does not stop at this external observation. It opens our eyes to a deeper, spiritual reality. Heaven is not just an atmosphere - it is the place of God's presence. Perfect, holy, beyond our human limitations. Earth, on the other hand, is the place of man, beautiful, but broken by the fall of man. Here we experience pain, separation and the often diffuse longing for something greater than ourselves. The gulf between heaven and earth is not a question of height, but of the heart - a spiritual separation that we cannot overcome in our own strength.

But God does not remain distant, for God becomes man and comes to earth. A movement begins in a simple manger and reaches its climax on the cross. Golgotha - a place of suffering - becomes a bridge between heaven and earth. Where all seems lost, the path to eternity opens up.

Next Step: In Revelation, we see John moving between heaven and earth as an observer. He gets a foretaste of what is to come. God also gives such moments today: quietly, surprisingly, in the middle of everyday life. Look out for them and thank God for the situations in which he brings heaven to you on earth.