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Christians know that death is not final. We will see all Christians again in heaven. In our time on earth we can leave a legacy that lives on in the lives of others about the importance of faith in God. Because of God’s love and power we can all make a difference in the lives of others. God can use us to show His love to others.
Dr. Phineas Gurley was pastor of the church which Abraham Lincoln attended while President. He preached the funeral sermon for the president in the White House East Room. Gurley described how many people admired Lincoln for his integrity, kindness, patience, forgiving nature, and self-sacrificing leadership. Lincoln had concern for the poor, weak, suffering, and oppressed based on his faith in God that let him know that all humans are important to God. President Lincoln’s faith in God as his Lord and Savior is what Pastor Gurley wanted people to remember about the president and for all others to have this great faith in God. The following is part of the message that Pastor Gurley shared at Lincoln’s funeral. “But more sublime than any or all of these, more holy and influential, more beautiful, and strong, and sustaining, was his abiding confidence in God and in the final triumph of truth and righteousness through Him and for His sake. This was his noblest virtue, his grandest principle, the secret alike of his strength, his patience, and his success… By this he speaks to his successor in office, and charges him to ‘have faith in God.’..By this he speaks to all who occupy positions of influence and authority in these sad and troublous times, and he charges them all to ‘have faith in God.’ By this he speaks to this great people as they sit in sackcloth to-day, and weep for him with a bitter wailing, and refuse to be comforted, and he charges them to ‘have faith in God.’ And by this he will speak through the ages and to all rulers and peoples in every land, and his message to them will be, ‘Cling to Liberty and right; battle for them; bleed for them; die for them, if need be; and have confidence in God.’" Have faith in God. President Lincoln and Dr. Gurley both knew this is more important than anything else. If this message would be taken to heart by all in the world, think about what a difference it would make. There would be far more encouragement and support and far less anger and sadness. Faith in God can lead to a heavenly perspective where we know that death is not the end, but the beginning of something so beautiful that we cannot begin to imagine it. Christians know where our true home is. A prominent citizen in a town was dying. As he lay in his lovely home, the best doctors surrounding him, he whispered, with a note of despair, “I’m leaving home, I’m leaving home.” Across town there lay a solitary figure in surroundings bare. Her modest home contained only the most threadbare of life’s essentials. In her eye was a gleam of hope and joy. Before she died she was heard to say with content, “I’m going home, I’m going home.” Let your eternal heavenly home impact your earthly perspective. Keep your thoughts on heaven and God’s love and in this earthly life God can use you so that more people are given the free gift of heaven. Reference: Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA:KDP.
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We know that because Jesus lives, He defeated death for all time and paid the price for our sins! We have a wonderful future in store for us! This changes our outlook on each day and we know that God will help us handle whatever comes in life. He will also fill us with a great sense of inner joy. A great song that highlights these important ideas is, “Because He Lives,” by Bill and Gloria Gaither. God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus, He came to love, heal, and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives. And then one day I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives. A few of the comments on a YouTube video of a great rendition of this song demonstrate the impact of knowing that Jesus lives! “My grandfather passed away today, he had the biggest impact on my life and showed me the correct way to live life as a Christian man. We played this song for him every day leading up to his passing. It was one of his favorite Gospel songs. I find peace in knowing he is with our lord Jesus and is dancing with his family.” “I sang with you all the way through. I am 84, and still singing and praising our wonderful Savior.” God’s love in our lives brings great peace. When we know we can lean on Him for strength and encouragement, each day becomes more manageable. The hymn, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” was written as a result of an epiphany based on the text of Deuteronomy 33:27. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Anthony Showalter was a gospel music composer and teacher. He wrote the hymn with pastor Elisha Hoffman. Showalter received letters from two of his former students saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation to these students, Showalter was inspired by Deuteronomy 33:27 and wrote the lyrics to the hymn with help from Hoffman. The hymn describes how we can rely on strength from God and have inner joy and peace throughout life. What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain: Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Reference:
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA:KDP. In heaven, Christians will be gathered from different cultures and backgrounds to celebrate our great King. All Christians will praise and worship God. They cried out in a loud voice. Revelation 7:10. The singular use of voice seems to imply a shared language. In Genesis 11 the people sought to build a great tower at Babel. God made them have different languages because they were seeking self-glorification and not looking to glorify Him. In heaven, we will solely glorify God. There may be a universal language that God has everyone know. God could also allow everyone to understand all languages. Heaven will be perfect, so we can expect that we will be able to communicate with all who are there. The overarching impact on our relationship with others in heaven will be our perfect, everlasting union with God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. We can seek to have God’s love impact our life on earth and those we interact with. The blessed assurance of heaven awaits us and the joy of fellowshipping with fellow believers. There is a touching poem called, “Knowing you’ll be there,” that describes that Christians will meet again in heaven. Knowing you’ll be there The other day I passed the place you always liked to go And I picked up the phone because I thought you’d want to know But I forgot you weren’t there I miss you on those days That I’m reminded of your smile And the funny things you’d say Knowing we can spend a lifetime Reminiscing on the past Knowing I will see your face again Where tender moments last It makes me want to go there Knowing I won’t be alone Knowing you’ll be there Makes it easy to go home. For Christians it is never goodbye when our time on earth is done, but see you later. In heaven, we will be reunited! We will love God with all our heart, soul, and mind! We will also show this love to others in everlasting perfection through love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! References: Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP Jennings, S., & Skyes, M. (2002). “Knowing you’ll be there.” In the movie, Avengers: Endgame, one of the super heroes, Iron Man, sacrifices himself in order to defeat evil and save those on the side of good. Later on in the movie there is a funeral scene for Iron Man. A video message is played that Iron Man had recorded of himself the day before he died. Part of his message describes his hope that good will win. “I’m hoping that if you play this back, it is in celebration. I hope families are reunited. I hope we get it back and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored.” A wreath is then placed in a lake. The camera pans around the scene to show all the superheroes from the previous twenty-two movies that led up to this movie who have gathered to pay their respects. When I watched the end of this movie it made me a little teary-eyed because I thought about Jesus’ sacrifice for all humans. On the cross Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil for all time. He died on the cross and gloriously rose three days later so that we can be victors in Christ! Through this, we live forever with Jesus in heaven thanks to the free gift of eternal life! The last thing that Iron Man says in his recorded message is that there is no need to worry. “Everything is going to work out exactly the way it is supposed to.” In our lives we can trust that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity in heaven. Seeing all the superheroes gathered together made me think about how this will occur in heaven. In heaven all the host of Christian believers will gather. It will not be a somber scene like the movie though. We will gather together to praise and worship God in joy! There is a great hymn called, “Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn),” which describes the forgiveness of sins received through Holy Communion as we gather at the table of our King. It also notes how we are strengthened to life everlasting in heaven where we will join around the table of our King with all believers. Under the YouTube video of this hymn a man posted a comment about what he thinks about when listening to the hymn. “When they come to ‘around the table of the king’, I think of my family in heaven, my Grandparents, Great Aunties and Uncles, my miscarried sibling and miscarried cousins and my cousin who died unexpectedly on the day before his 30th birthday. I imagine them turning their heads and smiling at us, as a way of inviting us to come and sit with them. This song makes me think of that day when we will all sit together in perfect peace and love, enjoying each other’s company at that happy reunion.” Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, Slain for us: and we remember: The promise made that all who come in faith Find forgiveness at the cross. So we share in this Bread of life, And we drink of His sacrifice, As a sign of our bonds of peace Around the table of the King. The body of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Torn for you: eat and remember The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life, Paid the price to make us one. So we share in this Bread of Life, And we drink of His sacrifice As a sign of our bonds of love Around the table of the King. The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, Shed for you: drink and remember He drained death’s cup that all may enter in To receive the life of God. So we share in this Bread of Life, And we drink of His sacrifice, As a sign of our bonds of grace Around the table of the King. And so with thankfulness and faith We rise to respond: and to remember Our call to follow in the steps of Christ As His body here on earth. As we share in His suffering, We proclaim: Christ will come again! And we’ll join in the feast of heaven Around the table of the King. References:
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. Townend, S., Getty, K., & Getty, K. (2007). “Behold the Lamb.” Brentwood, TN: Capitol CMG Publishing. In heaven there will be no sin. To imagine what this will mean as we fellowship with other believers we can think about the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23. There will be no more disagreements or hurt feelings or anger or sadness.
We have all likely shown the fruit of the Spirit to others or have been on the receiving end of them. Being shown love without any conditions. Joy based on obeying God’s will and fellowship with other believers. Peaceful thoughts from harmony, unity, contentment, and a lack of fear. Forbearance to show patience when it is required. Kindness to put others at ease and to be a friend. Goodness to be generous to others and selfless. Faithfulness to demonstrate trust and conviction for what is right by being devoted to God, family, and friends. Gentleness to be humble with a compassionate approach toward others’ weaknesses. Self-control to restrain one’s emotions, actions, and desires and to be in harmony with the will of God. Thinking about those experiences and knowing that in heaven this is what will occur all the time is quite wonderful! In our time on earth we can strive to live out the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12. On earth, we know that there is still sin, sadness, and pain. Showing God’s love to others can make a big difference. There once was a contest to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly man whose wife had recently passed away. Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into the old man’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” At times we experience suffering, pain, and sadness. God is always with us and seeks to help us. God can use each of us to share His love and compassion. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 1 Corinthians 1: 3-4. We can look forward to the eternity we will spend in heaven where we will only experience love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Reference: Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. We are blessed to have a wonderful God that cares for us and loves us. Through faith in God we can get a small idea of what our relationship with God will be like in heaven. There was a man who was widely respected by all who lived to the incredible age of 120. His long life could be credited in part to the cheerful outlook that characterized his life. One afternoon during his retirement, he was at work in the garden near the church he attended. He sang songs of praise to God while working. His pastor arrived at church and noted, “My, you seem very happy today.” “Yes, I was just thinking.” “Thinking about what?” inquired his pastor. “Oh, I was just thinking that if the crumbs of joy that fall from the Master’s table in this world are so good, what will the great feast in glory be like! I tell you, pastor, there will be enough for everyone and some to spare up there.” The joy and satisfaction that we experience in our earthly lives from our faith in God, will pale in comparison to the joy we experience in heaven. The second part of Revelation 22:5 states, And they will reign for ever and ever. In heaven, we will reign with Christ. Reigning with Christ means that Christ reigns in us. We live as He intended, to worship and glorify Him in all that we do. No sin, just perfect bliss and fellowship with our Creator. Motivated by God’s love, this can be what we strive for in our time on earth. God can guide us our whole lives and into eternity in heaven. “Guide me, O my great Redeemer,” is a powerful hymn that drives this point home. The music was written by John Hughes, a Welsh coal miner, near the end of his life. He had no musical training but was inspired by his faith in God to write the music. God provided manna or bread from heaven for the Israelites as they made their way to the promised land. God provides for us and guides us as well our whole life. We can have confidence that our great Redeemer will lead us to heaven with Him forever. Our relationship with God will be perfect in heaven. In seeking to praise and glorify God in all that we do, we can live in joy and hope for what God has in store for us in heaven. Keep your sight firmly fixed on God and you will be amazed at what you will see! Guide me, O my great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with your powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore, feed me now and evermore. Open now the crystal fountain, where the healing waters flow. Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, ever be my strength and shield, ever be my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside. Death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever sing to you, I will ever sing to you References
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. Williams, W., & Hughes, J. (1745). “Guide me, o my great Redeemer.” Fanny Crosby was born in 1820 and had a long life to the age of 94. Crosby was blind from the age of six weeks, but it did not hinder her determination for praising and serving God. She wrote the lyrics to more than 8,000 gospel hymns. She also was a friend of several presidents of the United States. One of Fanny Crosby’s most famous hymns is, “Blessed Assurance.” The composer of the music for this hymn played the melody to Crosby and asked, “What does the melody say to you?” Crosby replied that the tune said, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” and then she proceeded to state what the first stanza of the hymn would be. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blessed Watching and waiting, looking above Filled with His goodness, lost in His love This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Death could not hold You, You are victorious Praise to the risen King Death could not hold You, You are victorious Praise to the risen King Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior Wonderful Savior Motivated by God’s love and the blessed assurance of heaven, Fanny Crosby sought to praise God her whole life. She did not view her blindness as a limitation. When she was only nine years old, she wrote a poem about how she viewed her blindness. O what a happy soul am I, Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t. To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t. Crosby’s sought to live out the words of Psalm 145:2. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Though she could not see in her time on earth, she knew that in heaven she would see the very face of God. Being able to live her life with God as her constant companion, source of strength, and guide was a foretaste of the glory of God that Fanny saw in heaven when she died. In our lives we can seek to live like Fanny by keeping our hearts fixed on God’s love. We are blessed to have a wonderful God that cares for us and loves us! References: Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. Hawn, M. (2014). “History of hymns: ‘Blessed assurance.’” Retrieved from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-blessed-assurance God has promised to be with us for all time. In our time on earth, God provides us strength and help with any difficulties. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:19. We also know that faith in God can invigorate us through an inner joy as we approach each day. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31. In heaven, God is still with us for all time and the joy of knowing Him will provide us with great strength and vigor. Our relationship with God will be different though because in heaven there is no sin. We will see God’s face, live with Him, and worship and serve Him with great passion! Revelation 22:3-5a describes this. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. It is an amazing thing that we will see the face of God. In ancient Israel only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies of the temple; and the high priest could only go in once a year. When he went in, a rope a was tied around his ankle in case he died inside. The Holy of Holies was so sacred that no one else would dare go in. In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses says to God, Now show me your glory. God replies that He will cause all His goodness to pass in front of Moses. God goes on, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Exodus 33:20. The wonder of heaven is that we will be freely welcomed into the very presence of God and see Him face-to-face! Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that through God’s grace and forgiveness we can be seen as holy. When Jesus died on the cross, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Sin renders people unfit to be in the presence of God and see Him face-to-face. Jesus Christ, through His death, removed the barriers between God and us. In our time on earth we can approach God in prayer and worship to receive mercy and grace to help us with any problems. We can also look forward to a perfect relationship with God in heaven. To be able to look into God’s eyes will be what we have always longed for. We will find that seeing God will be our greatest joy! All joy will flow from our relationship with God. In Matthew 5:8 Jesus states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” In heaven our actions, words, thoughts, and feelings will be pure and solely focused on God’s love for us. God’s grace makes us pure and heaven is His free gift to us. Poet and song writer Fanny Crosby wrote the following lyrics in 1891. The sure hope of a home in heaven is evident in the lyrics as well the joy of living with God forever. Some day the silver cord will break, And I no more as now shall sing; But oh, the joy when I shall wake Within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace; And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace; Some day my earthly house will fall. I cannot tell how soon ‘twill be; But this I know—my All in All Has now a place in Heav’n for me. References:
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. Crosby, F. (1891). “Some day the silver cord will break.” Revelation 21:4 provides great insight into this question. “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
You may be suffering physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, materially, relationally, or socially. God Himself will take your face in His hands and gently wipe away your tears as He reassures you there will be no more suffering in heaven. Think about what that means. How much time do we spend thinking about things that are the result of sin? Sin causes suffering and pain in many ways. In heaven we will be freed from the negativity of sin. In heaven there will be no more lies. No more hospitals, death, or funerals. No more walkers, canes, wheelchairs, ventilators, or any other devices to help our bodies. No more broken homes, broken hearts, broken lives, or broken dreams. No more physical handicaps. No more heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disease, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, or any other type of disease or sickness. No more guns or violence or wars or fighting. No more suffering at all! We can look forward with hope to heaven. One day we will live in the home of our dreams in the community of the great host of believers with our loving God. Our home in heaven is safe and secure. When you feel unsettled about the direction of society, remember this is not our permanent home. In our time on earth God wants us to bring His Good News into a world that seems to be going bad. We can provide hope to many who have so little. We have the power of the almighty God within us. We have the promise of God before us. In heaven, we will have a new body, new heart, and a new mind! It will be perfect people living in perfect fellowship! It will be greater than we can imagine! When negative thoughts come your way, remember what awaits you in heaven. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Reference Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA:KDP. There are many questions that people have about heaven. The following is a frequent question. We can approach each day with joy because God is with us and when our time on earth is complete we will be with Him forever in heaven. Will we go to heaven immediately after death or simply fall asleep until judgement day? When we die we will go to heaven immediately. Our spirit will leave our earthly body and go to heaven. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states this. And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7. When Lazarus the beggar died he went right to heaven (Luke 16:19-31). Also, Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross that today he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43). The most recorded gospel song of all time provides a great description of this. Albert Edward Brumley wrote, “I’ll Fly Away,” in 1932. Brumley was born and raised in rural Spiro, Oklahoma. He attended the Hartford Musical Institute in Arkansas. He then returned to Oklahoma to help his family plant and pick cotton. Anyone who has performed any amount of farm work knows the intense physical and mental labor required. Brumley wrote the lyrics of I’ll Fly Away based on his Christian faith. He also notes, “I was dreaming of flying away from that cotton field when I wrote ‘I’ll Fly Away.’” The lyrics of the song rely heavily on the image of departing life, which can be full of suffering and difficulty, and joining God in heaven. The words convey the opposite of a fear or sadness of death and instead brim with joy. Brumley wrote the song intending it be able to be sung by anyone. This is fitting as God desires that all people be saved and spend eternal life in heaven. When we are faced with difficult work or adversity we can experience mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion. We can remember that heaven is real and God will provide us strength for each day. We can approach each day with joy because God is with us and when our work on earth is complete we will be with Him forever in heaven. The words of Moses in Psalm 90:14 are a good prayer for each day. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. I’ll Fly Away Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away; To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away). Chorus I’ll fly away, Oh Glory I’ll fly away; (in the morning) When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away). When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away; Like a bird from prison bars has flown, “I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away). Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away; To a land where joy shall never end, I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away). References:
Kerr, R. (2015). “’I’ll fly away’: A brief history of the quintessential gospel song (and ten great renditions).” Retrieved from http://www.trialanderrorcollective.com/collective-collab-blogs--playlists/ill-fly-away-a-brief-history-of-the-quintessential-gospel-song-and-ten-great-renditions Brumley, A. (1932). “I’ll fly away.” Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. |
Micah StohlmannChristian, author, and professor of mathematics education. Archives
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