The Real “Stairway to Heaven”
Written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, “Stairway to Heaven” is undeniably the most requested and one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever written. Beginning with a six-string acoustic guitar the song’s slow tempo and old English folk-style beat, it slowly accelerates, with the addition of electric instruments, to one of Jimmy Page’s best electric guitar solos. The song ends in the blues style a-cappella line “And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.”
While there have been many commentaries about the meaning of the song, none are based on a truly Christian perspective. One commentary suggested that the song was written about the Virgin Mary as the term “May Queen” was used. Others believe it may be a new type of Pagan religion with demonic messages heard if the song was played backward. Let us leave all that behind and move on.
The song begins;
“There’s a lady who’s sure, all that glitters is gold, And she’s buying a stairway to heaven”
“When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for”
Taking the lyrics at face value the lady appears to be a greedy, materialistic, arrogant person who believes that her wealth can buy her anything, including a way to Heaven. However, even with her wealth, she learned the hard way her life had no meaning and it will not get her into heaven.
This is the sentiment of many people today. By donating their money, many believe they can buy their way into Heaven. Or, they believe just by doing good and treating people nicely they will have earned their way to eternity.
The Bible tells us of the real “Stairway to Heaven” as dreamed by Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham.
10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:10-17 NIV
In his dream, Jacob had a vision of a stairway signifying a connection between God and mankind. In his vision, God showed himself to Jacob and reaffirms the covenant He made with Abraham, promising Jacob that his descendants will be many and part of a great Nation.
In contrast to Jacob’s vision, Genesis 11:1-4 tells us of the people of Babel:
1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used bricks instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11: 1-4
These scriptures define two distinct beliefs over the issue of salvation: One group will reach heaven based on the nourishment of God and only the nourishment of God, and the second group tries to reach heaven their way without the help of God.
In the Christian world, Jacob’s dream is highly symbolic, it represents Jesus Christ, who came to earth and became that stairway to heaven, paying for it with his own blood. Jesus is giving us the ability to reconnect our relationship with God which was broken because of sin.
The Bible tells us:
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
The Bible way to Heaven
Maybe you are a Christian who has lost your way, started to backslide, or who decided to do it your way and you want to renew your relationship with God. Back in the day, the Hebrew days, the Bible tells us that when the Hebrews needed to reconcile with God, they would build an altar to honor Him. In his book “Adventuring through the Bible,” Pastor and author Ray C. Stedman wrote:
As a Christian who wants to restore a broken relationship with God, the “altar” you build would not be a structure made of stone. Your “altar” would be a renewed commitment to prayer and meditation and the study of God’s word. It would be a renewed “family altar,” devotional time spent with your spouse and children, growing closer to God through regular family Bible reading and prayer.
Maybe you are a person who does not know God, who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe you are lost, confused or frightened and need to know what your future will bring. Or, maybe you do not know for sure if when you die you will go to Heaven or Hell.
You do not have to be in a Church to receive the gift of salvation, you do not have to be in the presence of a Pastor to ask for forgiveness. All you need to do is pray. The Bible tells you what you must do to be saved by Jesus Christ.
Admit you are a sinner
“For all have sinned, and have come short of the Glory of God”
Romans 3:23“As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one'”
Romans 3:10
No one is good enough to go to Heaven on their own merits. No matter how good we do, we will still come short
Realize the penalty for sin
“For the wages of sin is death.”
Romans 6:23(a)
Just as there are wages for good, there is punishment for wrong. The penalty for our sin is eternal death in a place called Hell.
Believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again for you
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
“Romans 10:9
Trust Christ alone as your Saviour
“…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” Romans 6:23(b)”for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Eternal life is a gift purchased by the blood of Jesus and offered freely to those who call upon him by faith. Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved forever.
