When heaven opens

            There is a wonderful account, in Mark 7: 33-35,  of a instance when Jesus healed a deaf man.  As Jesus is about to heal the man He looks up to heaven and says "Eph-pha-tha", translated "be opened".  For a long time I read this as Christ commanding the ears of the man to be opened.  But when I read it this time something else seemed to grab hold of me.  Jesus looked up to heaven when he said "be opened", He didn't look at the man's ears.  Jesus commanded heaven to open.  And when it did the result was that the man was cured of his deafness. 

            Amazing things happen when heaven opens.  Heaven opened when Christ came down and became a man.  It opened when Jesus healed the deaf man and when Stephen was martyred.  It opened when Christ ascended, and it will open again when He returns.  And the amazing events that will follow can not be fully imagined.  But until He comes again He will continue to let heaven open just enough to rain down His blessings upon us. 

            When we ask for His help, when we are waiting for the answer, listen closely for that still, small voice.   Hear the command, "Eph-pha-tha".    Expect heaven to open.  Be joyfully waiting for the result.  As the rain falls from the clouds and brings new life, so the blessings fall when the gates of heaven are opened.

SDG