10/16/2025
Streets of Gold, this Side of Heaven…
You know, on this journey with God, when you know His love, His goodness, His greatness, and His mercy - there are times you find yourself stuck in hard situations. In those moments, we turn to the Bible for hope, for inspiration, for a word from the Lord.
We look at the men and women in Scripture and relate their stories to our own - learning how to surrender, to abide in the vine. Jesus said in John 15 that abiding produces good fruit, and Psalms 1 echoes, like a tree planted by streams of living water; everything it does prospers.
And yet, when we’re in the pit - when things are hard - we often believe the miracle or breakthrough is what will get us out. And sometimes it does – it was Josephs dream interpretation that took Him into the Palace. Maybe you’re believing for a miracle in your family, ministry, a financial breakthrough, a promotion at work, a business deal, a creative idea, or a solution to a problem. Whatever your context - when you feel stuck, you see yourself like Joseph in the pit, or like David facing Goliath, or maybe like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness waiting for their “promised land”. We often refer to as being our desert or wilderness season.
We think the miracle will take us from the desert into the promised
land (the battle of Jericho), or from the pit into the palace. And that’s true - God does bring breakthroughs. But the deeper truth is this: He Himself is the promised land - He Himself is the palace. Heaven is available in an instant – its at hand.
You could get that miracle - that massive contract, that long-awaited reconciliation, that healing, that answered prayer - and still feel the emptiness of the prison. You might have more money, more influence, more responsibilities… but still be in a pit in your heart. There are plenty of people who get their unicorn valuation, elected into office, sell their deal who on the other side of the miracle they were believing for – feel exactly the same after a few days.
Because here’s the truth: everything on this earth is still a pit compared to Him.
Jesus is our palace. You have access to the palace right now. Before the breakthrough. Before the promotion. Before the miracle.
The moment you turn your heart toward Him - to adore Him, to love Him, to be with the One you love more than your next breath - in that instant, you’ve stepped into the palace. You’ve entered the promised land. This is true rest – true freedom – truly Heaven on Earth.
And when that becomes real to you, it won’t matter whether you’re a pauper or a prince - because you have instant access to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And He is your Daddy, which means you just received your inheritance, your coronation as Prince.
That access is worth far more than any billion-dollar commission, any unicorn startup, any earthly success. He is your palace.
So don’t get so caught up waiting to “enter the promised land” that you miss the fact that you’re already standing in it when you’re in His presence.
As the great theologian TobyMac once sang, “There ain’t no streets of gold this side of Heaven.” Even when your unicorn breaks forth, even when you get that promotion, when you get that marriage reconciliation, when your kids are saved and on fire for Jesus - every breakthrough on this side of Earth is just gonna need another one the next day.
By the way, you miracle will still happen, it’s not that when you step into this realm of letting go – putting Isaac on the altar - and making Him your One thing, you now have lost faith, because that too can let hopelessness land its dirty little aircraft.
Miracles are daily bread - manna for the journey - but Jesus Himself is the feast.
And this is what the rapture really pictures. Don’t be so focused on the future rapture that you miss the present one - that moment when your heart and affection are caught up into His love right now.
Every time you turn your heart toward Him, remember what He did for you - those hands once nailed to a cross so you can hug and love again, those feet once nailed to a tree so yours could walk in freedom, with Him. He wanted your hands free to love and your heart free to receive love.
Jesus is our one thing and our everything.
Prayer:
Lord, for everyone reading this - open our hearts to receive this seed of Your kingdom.
Open our minds to see You clearly and know You more deeply.
There’s nothing more important than You, Jesus.
We want to walk with You, to hear Your voice - not in mystery, not missing it, but intimately and plainly.
You are our one thing, our everything, our first and our last.
Holy are You, Lord.
Worthy are You, King Jesus.
We worship You. We love you
Hallelujah - Amen.
