When we all get to heaven

When we had announced our resignation as pastor of Philadelphia’s Highway Tabernacle, one of the high school youth asked, "Will our next pastor sing ‘When we all get to heaven?’" At first, I was startled and asked why that was so important to her. Her response was telling. "You always tell us we are people going somewhere and that heaven was our home." She "got it!"

In a few days I will, d.v., fulfill my next preaching assignment. I am looking forward to leading the church singing "When we all get to heaven!" People of faith are traveling toward a wonderful destination! As much as we might enjoy this life, and we ought to, heaven is incomparable.

The lyrics about heaven have been running around inside of me for more than six decades. Heaven grows more real, more attractive as calendar pages turn, wrinkles crease once smooth skin and ankles, knees, wrists and elbows turn more stiffly.
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.

Refrain:
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!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

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.
We need not be escapists looking to leave because life is too sour and our outlook too dour. Sadly, some despair of everything future. I believe we ought to have "deo volente," or "God willing" plans for tomorrow! But, we are moving toward a much better address, a place prepared for us by Jesus!

Sing it now friends! It won’t be too long when the truths and urging of a great song will be reality and never be sung again.