We human beings long to hear the voice of God. Deep in our souls, we ache for assurance that God is real, and we want to hear from him. But often it can seem that hearing from God requires us to somehow climb into heaven.

Today the author of Hebrews calls our attention to the variety of ways in which God speaks—and none of these requires us to ascend to heaven ourselves. “Through the prophets at many times and in various ways” God has addressed his people. He has caused his Word to be written down. In the Bible we have the record of God’s interactions with sinful humanity, the stories of God’s people throughout history—and these help us to see the many features of God’s character.

Since Jesus came, we have even more information, for he has come into the world as the very Word of God (John 1:1-4). Ultimately God’s communication to us can be summed up in one word: Jesus. By his life and death and resurrection— and especially his ascension— Jesus draws our attention to God in heaven.

Hearing the voice of God does not require some mysterious spiritual practice. All we have to do is focus on Jesus, who— like a great megaphone—has come so that we might hear God’s voice and see his love in action here on earth.