The Christians who are resolved to make a mark for Christ in this world must be commended for their resolution. You need only open your eyes for a second to see the futility and folly all around us. Amid that folly, our goal is to see salvation spring up from the ground. We anticipate the budding forth of redemption and not without warrant. The prophet Isaiah said, “Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation. And let righteousness spring up together” (Isaiah 45:8). 

But we must remember what happens prior to the growth of wheat in the fields and grapes on the vine, and that is: rain from heaven. Just before Isaiah spoke of salvation springing forth from the earth, he said, “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness” (Isaiah 45:8). 

Christ has ascended into heaven, and our salvation is in him. All blessing comes from the Father through the heavenly seated Son to us by the Spirit. God rains down righteousness upon us. He pours out grace upon grace. He rejoices over us with loud singing. Our job is to listen. He is our Heavenly Father. So turn your ear up. He makes his face to shine upon you. Turn your face up and behold his glory without a veil. If you do, you will be most useful in this life. In other words, C. S. Lewis was just right when he said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next . . . Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”