Many people are out and about. Cooking steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill? Going to the lake or the mountains or to Grandma’s house? Many are on the roads this weekend (watch out for those who don’t have self control and drink then get behind the wheel of a car!!). Shooting fireworks or watching someone else do it? Most are having fun in one way or another, many with families and friends. Some are partying and doing as the world says, “raising hell” over the holidays.

I think we all understand what that term means….you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard it many times and seen it demonstrated on the big screen…
I think there is another term that fits the day and age we live in….I’ll call it “raising heresy.” There are so many….it is impossible to even name the majority of them. Here is one example: The leading contender in the polls for the GOP presidential race holds to religious beliefs that Jesus Christ and Lucifer (satan) are brothers, both created by God. Jesus, obviously was the “good” one and was rewarded by his own planet to rule. We all know where his “brother” is. They also believe that God had sex with Mary and gave birth to Jesus because he needed a human form. Raising heresy. Get the point?

I think I would like to start a new tradition this July 4th. It is not limited to this or any holiday, but this seems like a good place to start. I’ll call it “raising Heaven.” The term “raise” means to bring back to life, to lift up, or in the vernacular of the old two-way radio it meant to “make contact with.”

So, “raising Heaven” would mean that we do the following:
1) Get so in tune with God that Heaven and its Truth infiltrates us like marinade on a steak, soaking into every pore and cell of our body….but this Truth not only would affect us physically, but mentally and Spiritually, marinating our very soul with its Blessing.
2) Let Heaven spill over onto someone near us. Once we are saturated with the presence of the precious Holy Spirit and His Truth of Heaven has permeated our souls, it can’t help but splash out onto those near us. No longer will we need a label that says, “I am a Christian!” Our lives will show it. Our actions will substantiate it. Our loved ones and friends will verify its authenticity. And, our hearts will explode with its blessed affirmation.

Finally, choose to deliberately share this depth of God’s love to someone who is hurting or is hurting others this weekend. That’s what I’m doing this July 4th. Will you join me?
In Our Master’s Joyful Service,
Ed Smith