The Heavenly Telephone by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 7, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 14.

The Heavenly Telephone

By H. A. St. John

In the morning Jacob arose from his lowly and lonely bed, refreshed by slumber, but most of all refreshed by a vision in a dream. He saw a ladder reaching from the place where he was to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending upon that ladder. The Lord stood above it, and talked with Jacob at the lower end. Perhaps He talked through the visible angelic telephone. That ladder was a living wire. Jesus said the Son of Man was the ladder upon which the angels come and go. No other way of communication is opened between heaven and earth than through Jesus, by whose directions millions of angels are sent to and fro to minister to mortals.

This heavenly telephone line is a most marvelous instrument of transmission. It is far superior to man’s telephones in many particulars. Let us consider some of the important features of superiority.

First: Its Length. We talk about the long-distance telephones of earth, but they do not compare with this for long distance. It reaches from earth to heaven, from this world to the home of God, Christ, and all the holy angels, the very center of God’s great universe. It is the only line between the places named, and no power on earth can destroy this, or establish any other. By this the saints on earth and the King of saints in heaven are brought very near together. Space is annihilated. By this Jesus reaches down His human arm, and embraces His children on earth, while at the same time with the other hand He grasps the throne of the Eternal. Thus the otherwise impassable gulf is spanned. O, what a wonderful expression and provision of divine love!

Second: Its Accessibility. To get access to the telephones of men, it is often necessary to go some distance; and to many, a telephone is utterly inaccessible. But it is the privilege of every soul to have the heavenly telephone, not simply in his house, but that which is far better, he may have it in his own heart. He himself becomes the instrument, the receiver, and thus has communication with Heaven at all time, night or day, and in all places.

When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.” The child of God, who has become connected with the heavenly ’phone by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, ought never to forget that the Lord is with him all the time, everywhere, in every place, an ever-present Saviour.

Third: Its Privacy. The heavenly messages between God’s children can not be known or taken off the line by another. Others may hear the message if the receiver or the Lord wills, but not otherwise. Alone, in the place of secret prayer, or in the secret chamber of the heart, even if surrounded by friends or foes, he may send messages to heaven and receive answers of peace. No pope, no priest, or prayer-book is necessary to an intelligent, constant, and joyful communion.

Fourth: Its Reliability. This means of communication is uniformly and infallibly accurate. The child of God may inaccurately and ungrammatically express his desires; the petition may be made with the lips only, with no heart in it; or it may be uttered in brokenness of heart, with sobs, tears, and groans, but the Lord at the other end of the line never mistakes the full import of the message, and will answer in accordance with heavenly wisdom. There are no switches that can alter or turn the message aside. And more, if from any cause the power of utterance is gone, the deep yearnings and aspirations of the soul may be transmitted with certainty and distinct answers returned, without the voice of speech.

Fifth: Its Sufficiency. The terminal of this line is in heaven, at the throne of the universe, where are seated the Father and Son. And Jesus is there especially for us, clothed with all power in heaven and earth, and filled with the riches of infinite wisdom and love, ever ready to listen to messages of song, prayer, or service. In heaven there is a fulness of everything that pertains to life and godliness, and the message from God to man is, Come boldly to the throne; ask and receive fulness of grace to help in every time of need. Every good gift, and every perfect gift comes from the Father of lights through the ministration of holy angels. Through the same living channel of light and glory, we may receive healing, comfort, truth, wisdom, deliverance, love,— indeed, all the rich blessings of Heaven are thus made available to us.

But O, how much depends upon the human

instrument, the receiver? If we turn away our ears from hearing God’s law, our prayers become an abomination to Him. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, He will not hear us. If we become careless, indifferent, forgetful, backslidden, or lukewarm, our prayers are hindered, our communion with God is vague and unsatisfying. But if we are in the heavenly current, in the fullest accord with the Divine, the place to which the Lord is calling us, then we will talk with Jesus, walk with Jesus, sup with Jesus. And, blessed be God, there is no power on earth that can prevent it. Wars, fires, earthquakes, storms, and such like calamities, often prostrate human lines of communication, but none of these affect in the least the stream of God’s love and blessings. The soul thus connected with God may be in the fiery furnace, the lion’s den, the darkest dungeon,—anywhere in this world,—yet he is with Jesus, walking and talking with Him.

“O, to walk and talk with Jesus; ’Tis a blessed thought to me; This my daily prayer, my Saviour, Let me walk and talk with Thee.” H. A. St. JOHN.