When We All Get to Heaven

Last month held my mom’s birthday.  If she were still here with me, I would do the normal ritual of taking her to a Country Buffet and having a chocolate cake waiting at her house for when she got back home.  But instead, I left the tour for a few days so I could return home and put flowers on her grave.  This month holds her death day.  I lost mom back in 2010.  It’s had to believe its been three years already.

After she had her second stroke, I had to abandon the tour all together to be by her side as she lie helpless in the nursing home.  Many days were to painful to witness because the strokes eventually robbed her of most memories, including my identity.  I could have just been a nurse for all she knew.  But, I knew who she was, and that is all that mattered.

There were so many times that I would arrive and she was in such severe pain that all she could do is cry aloud.  Relief came when I finally brought in a CD player with select music.  There was one particular song that stands out .  When I would hit play on this track, mom would totally relax… and rest. Sometimes even smile.

“Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.”

My mom brought me up in a church that loved the old gospel hymns.  This tune was a regular on Sunday mornings for us.  There were many hand picked hymns on the CD I had prepared for her.  My intention was to bring her relaxation and peace.  This particular one just did something for her that no others could.

I have no idea what thoughts passed through mom’s vacant mind during this time in her life, but I like to believe that Jesus took that opportunity to speak to her… since it was easier to have her undivided attention.  I like to believe that he delivered her visions of what was soon to come for her.

“Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.”

There have been so many ideas of exactly what heaven will be like and look like.  Many are directly from scriptures, and many things are frankly quite exciting!  Mom doesn’t hurt anymore.  Al of the heartaches she endured here on earth are no longer part of her life.  Today, she just praises our Savior.

“When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!”

As I placed the flowers on the marble slab that honors her earth suit, because that’s what you are expected to do… I breathed a sigh of relief.  She’s not in that grave… she’s in heaven.  She’s with Jesus.  Not hurting… not suffering.  Worshiping.  Rejoicing.  Can you feel it?  Can you enjoy the anticipation of what’s to come?  I sure can!  I cannot wait until it’s my time to join Him!  Won’t you join us?

I Can Only Imagine

Several years back, I was asked to sing at a funeral.  I couldn’t imagine why I was chosen among so many great vocalists that were in attendance, because I am not by any means what I would consider a good singer.  I found out later that before this precious lady passed, she had mentioned how much she loved hearing me sing in church when I was a small child… so I was asked to sing when she passed.  As nervous as I was, it was truly an honor, because this lady embodied what it was like to be a Christ follower.

I had about 24 hours to determine what I would sing, so that I could coordinate with the band and rehearse a time or two.  This lady was an “old school” piano playing, gospel music loving, lady of The Lord.  So, I should sing a hymn.  Which one?  Amazing Grace!  Everyone knows that one.  But… I really can’t remember a funeral I have been to where Amazing Grace wasn’t performed.  Plus, I’m not the only person singing today, and they might want that song…

“I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By Your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face
Is before me

I can only imagine.”

I settled on this song because to me, it really spelled out how is lady lived her life.  She lived it with no fear… Only fear of The Lord.  She truly was one of those people who never had a bad thing to say about anyone, and always looked for the very best in everyone.  One of those people you knew you could count on to keep a secret, and if you needed to call her for prayer at 3am, she’d stay on the phone to sunrise if needed.  Christ in heels… that’s how I saw her.  And don’t tell me that’s disrespectful, because the Bible clearly instructs us to be imitators of Christ.  She DID THAT.

No fear.  When she met Jesus just after her final breath on Earth, I can only imagine how she reacted.  There are so many possibilities.  I’d like to believe I know how I would react, but I can’t.  I’d like to believe that when The Lord looks at me and says “Welcome Home,” that I would reply with a strong “Thank You, Lord…”  and humbly walk through the pearly gates.  But chances are that I would break down and cry my eyes out, and continue for who knows how long.  Man… What a moment!

“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I
fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine”

When that day comes, and we find ourselves there is His presence, and we are ushered into His kingdom… we will have no regrets for living the “good life” in the “bad world” of Earth.  It will be the ultimate reward, but we will see it as the opportunity to eternally thank the One who gave all to make it possible.  We can only imagine the unimaginable.  Tell me it’s easy to imagine what heaven will really be like… I dare ya!  All we know is that what we can possibly imagine about it, it’s probably a billion times greater.  The Lord built the universe in 7 days… Imagine what He can build in a several thousand years!

 

“I Can Only Imagine” by “MercyMe” contributed to the composition of this story.

You Hold Me Now

I grew up in a church that sorta confused me.  It was an old-school pentecostal church, and every song they sang was about going to heaven.  (They had balance…  every sermon was about going to Hell.)  But yeah, every song, or hymn that was performed on the stage was about going to heaven.  They never sang about thanking the Lord, praising the Lord, or worshiping the Lord…  just going to heaven!  Gotta get to heaven!  They had songs like “Looking for a City,” “The Glad Reunion Day,” “When We All Get to Heaven,” “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There,” and their personal favorite “I’ll Fly Away!”

I said all that to say this…  I’m very much PAST those songs.  I need to learn more about Christ besides heaven.  Heaven is a wonderful place, YES.  But I need to know a thing or two about how to live down here until it’s time for me to go to heaven.  It’s rare that I ever like to hear a song about Heaven.  But there’s one that absolutely draws me in almost immediately!

“On that day when I see all that You have for me,
When I see You face to face there surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept away in the light of your embrace.
When Your love is all I need and forever I am free Where the streets are made of gold
in Your presence healed and whole.
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain, No suffering,
You hold me now, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame. No hiding,
You hold me now, You hold me now!

In this life I’ll finally stand through my joy and my pain
Knowing there’s a greater day, there’s a hope that never fails
When You’re name is lifted high, and forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name, I’ll be living for the day

When the wars and violence cease,
All creation rest in peace.
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone.”

I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty exciting to me.  When I look around me on earth right now, I am really looking forward to this time of being in heaven.  All of the horrible things that I deal with earth will be no more.  Now, don’t misunderstand me, there’s many things I love about being on earth.  I feel that I have a great life, I really love my career, and the people I call my friends are the best people in the world!  But there’s things that I don’t like repeating that seem to come back to haunt me all the time.  In heaven, they will be no more.

I won’t be sick anymore.  I like that a lot because I’m a wimp when it comes to being sick.  My family and friends won’t have to worry about being sick.  My buddy who is in the doctor’s office so much that he considers it his second home… no more to worry about once he’s in heaven!  My nephew won’t have to worry about whether or not his tumor will return.  There’ll be no tumors!

No wars.  No losing loved ones to road side bombs.  No more fighting!  No oil spills.  No politics.  (Praise God)  There’ll never be a need to worry about losing your job or income, or worrying about how your bills will be paid.  No divorce.  People will love each other again!  Families will re-unite.  It will indeed be a happy place!

What’s even more exciting is getting to be with Jesus.  Just the thought of seeing the man who took death so that I could be forgiven when I screw up…  And yes, I SCREW UP sometimes.  But, because of Him, it’s ok!  All I need to do is ask for forgiveness, and try not to keep repeating the same mistake over and over.  I will meet the man who made it all possible.  I will be so happy to see Him!

Are YOU ready?  I hope you are, because I want you to experience all of this with me.  If you’re NOT ready, you can be.  It’s so simple.

Ask Jesus to come into your life, and to be your Savior.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  Then, turn from those sins and live for Jesus.  Pray often, and tell others the great news of Christ.

That’s it!  Do that, and Jesus will hold you.  He will hold you immediately, and you can see Him face to face real soon.  You’ll never be the same, and you’ll be glad of it.

“No weeping, no hurt or pain, No suffering,
You hold me now, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame. No hiding,
You hold me now, You hold me now!”

 

“You Hold Me Now“ by The Brighter contributed to the composition of this story.