The Gate of Heaven

Genesis 28:10-17

Several years ago my family and I took an opportunity to go out to visit the state of South Dakota. And, as most of you know, South Dakota is a state with a lot of varied scenery -- everything from flat plains on the east side of the state to the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore in the central part of the state. But, perhaps one of the most curious places for a person to go visit as they make their way across South Dakota is that place known to the world as "Wall Drug."

Planted in a small, inconspicuous town, not too far away from the Badlands, Wall Drug, as its name implies, started out as a drug store. At that time it was just a small, unknown drug store, nestled in the middle of other nameless and forgotten stores. It was no where special. And, certainly, it was not a place to which anyone would care to drive even ten miles to see.

But, as time went by, and more and more people started to travel out to see the Badlands and visit Mt. Rushmore, the proprietor of Wall Drug noticed that quite a few people were coming to his little town and stopping in at his drug store. And, it seemed that more often than not, especially in the summer time, folks would ask for a drink of water. And, of course, the water was freely given.

This gave the proprietor an idea. He went to a nearby sign painter and had a couple of signs made that he could put out on the road leading from the Badlands to town, inviting people to come and get a free drink of ice cold water at Wall Drug.

The idea worked. Within just a few years, Wall Drug had to expand. The surrounding stores were bought up, the inventory was expanded, and even more signs were put out on the roads leading to that small, inconspicuous town. Today, those signs are all over the country. And I don't think there is anyone who has ever been to South Dakota who hasn't been to Wall Drug. You can see Wall Drug bumper stickers on cars in every state in the Union. And when I was in Israel a couple of years ago I even saw a Wall Drug bumper sticker over there.

This just goes to show that when ever a need is met, no matter where it is, people will beat a path to your doorstep. And this isn't just true for stores and businesses, but this is true for the Body of Christ, as well.

In our scripture lesson for today we are told that Jacob was travelling from the city of Beersheba to Haran, a trip taking several days, going by foot. And as the night was coming on, Jacob came, the scripture says," to a certain place." That's all we are told about it. As far as Jacob was concerned it was just another spot in the road. It was just a certain place where a person could stop and rest for the night. There was nothing special about it at all, as far as Jacob was concerned.

Indeed, most places are like that for us. For some of us, we get so used to being in one place that it doesn't seem all that special to us anymore. Several years ago I travelled to London, England. And as I was there I met some Londoners who asked me where I came from. When I told them that I was from Michigan they replied that they had always wanted to make a trip to the "colonies" to see Michigan. And, that kind of took me by surprise. Here I was from Michigan visiting one of the world's most interesting and special cities while, at the same time the citizens of that city wanted to go visit the place I had come from. In a way it made me feel a little homesick, or a little proud of where I had grown up.

Sometimes even the special-ness of our church can seem like "old hat" after a while. And we need something to come along and remind us of how special our church really is, with its unique history, flavor, and fellowship.

This is what happened to Jacob in our scripture lesson for today. Going off to sleep in that "not so special place," Jacob had a dream. "He saw a stairway resting on the earth," the scripture says, "with its top reaching to heaven," with angels going up and down. And Jacob could see the Lord and then even heard the Lord telling him how his descendents would settle upon the land where he was lying and become as plentiful as the dust upon the earth. But, not only this, but as Jacob was lying in that "not so special place," God told him that he would never leave him alone.

Awakening from this dream, Jacob suddenly realized that the place where he had been sleeping was not simply a "certain place," but that it was, indeed, a very special place, afterall.

Sometimes this is the kind of reminder we need in our own lives as we may dwell in those places which we may have come to think aren't really all that special, but which are actually more special than we may think.

I grew up attending Court Street United Methodist Church in Flint. My mother, sister, brother and I would go to church there every Sunday. I sang in the choir there and went to Sunday School and M.Y.F. there. After a while that church became like a second home to me. Hopefully, for many of you sitting here today, this church has become like a second home to you. But, sometimes, as we become familiar with a place and used to being there and working there, we forget how special that place is. Sometimes it takes something unusual in our lives to remind us of how extraordinary that "certain place is". For Jacob, it took an encounter with God to make that place special.

When ever I go home to Court Street Church in Flint I am reminded that I met Christ over and over again in that place. So, to me, that place is special. And I hope this place, this church, is special to you, as well. For, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can say, just as Jacob said it, "Surely the Lord is in this place. This is none other than the house of God; and this is the gate of heaven."

Over the span of time we spend here together, it is my prayer that we can explore the depths of God's presence and power. Already, I am beginning to feel that God has been and continues to work in the lives of many of you sitting here today. And I look forward to sharing in that fellowship together with you. Amen.