“Another World”

(Friends: thanks to our good friend Ray T., who sent us a story last week that led to writing the following. Glen).

There’s another world in which to sing, this is not the only one. A place beyond, a realm on high, far past the moon and sun.

For trusting hearts fly to that place, when time on earth is done, to voice the melody of grace composed by God’s dear Son.

For there’s another world in which to sing, This is not the only one.

If we listen closely now, with heart rather than ear, the strains of glad refrains of joy may seem to hasten near.

For deep within the trusting heart, our spirits chance to hear, that place beyond more near than far, its songs of praise quite clear.

For there’s another world in which to sing, This is not the only one.

Forevermore, the bells will peal a symphony of song, as Heaven’s holy harmony sounds from its ransomed throng. ‘ Praise to the Father, glory be forever to the Son. As God the Holy Spirit leads our hearts to sound as one…

For there’s another world in which to sing. This is not the only one.

Yes, there’s another world in which to sing. This is not the only one.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 89:1)

“Purposes of Preparation”

In my elementary school days, the public school I attended broadcast the 100 th Psalm over the intercom as each day began.

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”

I have little doubt that this hearing of King David’s beautiful song in my childhood influenced my reception of the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of eighteen. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). At the time, I didn’t realize that such a preparatory work was being accomplished in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, I’m quite certain that most mornings, I didn’t pay that much attention to the words. The Lord nevertheless penetrated my heart and mind with His truth, tilling the spiritual soil and planting the seed of Christ that would one day sprout into my personal experience of life eternal.

Most of God’s preparatory work in our lives takes place without our knowing it is happening. Circumstances, events, conditions, situations and people come and go, seemingly as the mere natural progression of chance and circumstance. If we could see more clearly the heart and hand of God at work, we’d realize far more meaning and significance in the happenings of our lives. This includes the present moment, wherein our Heavenly Father doubtless accomplishes necessary tilling and planting for a harvest later to come.

Thus, we can make a joyful noise, serving the Lord with gladness and approaching Him with singing. We can rejoice that we belong to Him and not ourselves. We can praise and thank Him in complete confidence that our yesterdays, todays and tomorrows serve purposes of preparation for this life and for eternity. Yes indeed, the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations.

“God… worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

“Upon First Sight”

It is permissible for even the most ardent believer to momentarily frown and perhaps even shudder a bit when thinking of the time when we will, as Shakespeare wrote, “have shuffled off this mortal coil” through physical death. We’re human, and will initially feel the reactions of our present limitations regardless of how strongly we trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

Quickly, however, our frown and shudder must be replaced with a smile and a deep rejoicing in the realization that our earthly demise opens the door into heavenly delight. Such abundance of joy primarily references not streets of gold, or gates of pearl, or even reunions with loved ones, as wonderful as such things and experiences will surely be. No, the chief delight of Heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ, the beloved of His Father, the object of joyous worship by angels, and the wonder of heavenly saints who, like us, trusted initially in One whom they could not see. They see Him now, however, and if they could communicate with us, would tell us that any fear of death for the trusting heart is but an illusion that will fly away upon first sight of our Redeemer.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Whence we go, we shall not go alone. Indeed, we will never have been with anyone so much as we will be with the Lord Jesus when He and His angels come to escort us to our eternal home in the heavenlies. The hindrance of our damaged humanity will drop away from our redeemed spirits, and the veil shall be lifted. Our Savior will have come for us, as He promised, and we will spiritually experience His presence in a manner far beyond any measure we knew during our earthly sojourn. “Thou art with me” will be the dominant sensibility of passing through the valley of the shadow, and our mortality will be “swallowed up of life” (II Corinthians 5:4).

I believe this truth to be a most sanctifying consideration for the present moment. When we choose by faith to overcome the temptation to fear death, great and good things happen in our hearts that cause us to pursue a life that genuinely honors God. Indeed, the only reason we need not quake and shudder when considering death is that our blessed Lord Jesus “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man ” (Hebrews 2:9). Such remembrance can only serve to foster an increased devotion of loving gratitude in the trusting heart. Thereby we bow heart and knee to give thanks, and thereby we arise with a heart determined to requite the Savior’s death by a life lived for His glory…

“I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living… O LORD, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” (Psalm 116: 9; 16-17)