In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is 
earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. John 3:31
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The Heaven and the Earth. Two simple words, yet so profound in meaning and purpose. One enduring forever, transcending time and space. The other bound by time, waxing old and eventually passing away.
Such are we. One part of us has access to the heavenly sphere, the other part anemic and earthbound. The God of Creation merged the two and spontaneously ignited lifeless, inorganic material with His spirit.
A Living Soul
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7
The supernatural embraced substance, eternity cloaked herself in a garment fashioned by time, the Holy intermingled with earthly dust – the Heaven and the Earth.
Heaven and earth are united in His unique creation called “a living soul”. Never to die as the fowl of the air or the beasts of the field, but to live forever – somewhere. Heaven and the Earth embodied in unison, co-existing to experience oneness with the Creator of all:
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Genesis 3:8-9
It is God’s desire to fellowship with His creation; an encounter between the heavenly and the earthly. It is on God’s earthly stage that the visible manifestation of the interplay between things that are eternal and the things that are temporal are acted out – God’s will-in-action, if you will. This interplay is recorded in what we know as the Bible – The Word of God.
God’s Word is the source code that runs the program we know as life on earth. Nothing escapes His eyes and no action on earth evades His awareness. Even the very birds of the air are under His command:
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Matthew 6:26
Did you catch the last part of that scripture? Sometimes we forget really how much Jesus is involved or wants to be involved in our lives. The Lord is more concerned about us than we will ever fully realize in this life. There is a God in Heaven who is keenly concerned about what goes on on this earthly theater:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Our Choice
The question remains – which will we choose? Our actions are constantly weighed and tested. We make decisions daily between the heavenly or the earthly. The battle never ceases and it rages both on the inside and on the outside:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:23-24
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8
The Overcommers
But, there will be a reward awaiting those who choose to do what is right and live above the reproach of sin.
The word “Overcometh” occurs 11x in ten verses of the N.T. Eight of those verses are located in the Book of Revelation, a book written to describe the end of time. This is not a coincidence. Only overcommers will inherit eternal life; those who made deliberate and intentional heavenly choices over earthly alternatives:
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:6-7
The Lord did not create us to be robitrons or zombies forced to obey His commandments in autopilot. He gave us the gift of free will – the option of choice.
And true love can only be revealed from a human will that is free to choose. A love based on one relational non-negotiable – faithfulness. And faithfulness is proven how? By making consistent decisions that prefer one choice (and only one) above all others that compete and oftentimes combat to supersede.
The Lord has given us the liberty and the freedom to seek after the heavenly or the earthly. The choice is ours to make. And His grace is sufficient to keep us all on the right path that will lead to eternal life.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Coming next in Part II: Carbon or Christ?
Messes To Masterpieces 