STAIRCASE to HEAVEN

       In This life there appears to be a “highway” to hell, and a “Staircase to Heaven”. Recently some rock music groups have titled two songs this way. I suppose the highway to hell is easier & appeals to more folks. BUT the “Staircase to Heaven” is there too, just more difficult & not as well traveled.
     Now the SPIRAL stair to me is a likely symbol of the Staircase to Heaven because even the upward path of God is not straight & direct – it’s a curving challenge & meant to be. I’m told the medieval castle spiral stair goes up and to the right (or clockwise) & is designed that way so castle defenders coming down have a right-handed advantage to swing swords. But Christ & angels defend God’s “castle” & upward path and they are in business to HELP the seeker of Truth rather than hinder. Ref. Hebrews 1:14 The hindrances will come from our selves & fellow humans.
     One “curve” we meet on the “Staircase to Heaven” is persecution outside the church, and then shallow Christians in the Church, who do things in the religious group that muddies the “water” & ruins new believers. Unnecessary “stuff” like cold shoulder, petty judgment, subtle games, etc. against the Spirit of fellowship. Jesus & the Apostles said, “Love one another”, but pursuers of God will be occasionally met by falseness in the church – see “The Game” link 52 or “Imposters” link 57. Often when we get our eyes off J.C. we can easily lose our footing. And of course, our spiritual adversary is very capable & will always trip us & spoil our progress upwards. See Ephesians 6.
     A hobby of mine is to make welded spirals – five of them so far. The spiral I want to build next goes around twice, but God’s spiral S t H just keeps going round & round all the way up, and it can be wearisome. Sometimes landings seem to happen where we are stuck for a while – maybe for rest. Psalm 23:1-2 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
     In spite of the problems of the “Staircase to Heaven” & step-by-step journey upwards, it’s worth it because if you deal with the challenge, you will see Jesus & your purpose of life more clearly. “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Proverbs 4:18 That reference goes on in verse 19 to clearly show the other side of the coin – those folks who ditch the StH and go the other way. “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” For a misguided word “picture” of that other path today, Google the lyrics of AC-DC “Highway to Hell”.
-   Psalms 37:23-24 “The steps of a man are from the Lord, and he establishes him in whose way he             delights; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord is the stay of his hand.
-   Habakkuk 3:19* “The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will         make me to walk upon mine high places. . .”
-   Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to         destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that           leads to life, and those who find it are few."  Jesus said that.
-   Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
-   1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as         though something strange were happening to you.” 
     Well, I’m convinced it’s better to “spiral” up & be blessed, than to Highway down towards the undesirable place. I’ve heard it’s hot down there – J.C. said it was. See “I Saw the King” link 7. Try Jesus, He is alive.

Many other Titles:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                                       * * F.J. Stone * *  
                                                                                                                                                           148