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.

Reference:
Stohlmann, M.  (2020). The world's greatest future. ​Seattle, WA:KDP.

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.”

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. 

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.

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. 

​Joni Eareckson Tada is a good example of someone who has worked to be a witness of God’s great love through dealing with adversity in her life. Tada had a diving accident at the age of 17 that resulted in her being a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Since this time she has written books and spoken often about the importance of faith in God. Christian singer Nancy Honeytree wrote a poem called, “Joni’s Waltz,” that describes the mindset Joni has taken driven by her Christian faith. Like Joni Eareckson Tada, we know that in heaven our bodies will be perfect. We can draw on strength from God during our time on earth and trust that God can use any difficulty in our life for good.

​Joni’s Waltz
Though I spend my mortal lifetime in this chair,
I refuse to waste it living in despair.
And though others may receive
Gifts of healing, I believe
That He has given me a gift beyond compare…
 
For heaven is nearer to me,
And at times it is all I can see.
Sweet music I hear
Coming down to my ear;
And I know it’s playing for me.
 
For I am Christ the Savior’s own bride,
And redeemed I shall stand by His side.
He will say, “Shall we dance?”
And our endless romance
Will be worth all the tears I have cried.
  
I rejoice with him whose pain my Savior heals.
And I weep with him who still his anguish feels.
But earthly joys and earthly tears,
Are confined to earthly years,
And a greater good the Word of God reveals.
 
In this life we have a cross that we must bear;
A tiny part of Jesus’ death that we can share.
And one day we’ll lay it down,
For He has promised us a crown,
To which our suffering can never be compared.

References:
Tada, J.E. (2010). Heaven. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP.