I wrote this a year ago, while my mom was still alive...now she is in glory, experiencing what she had anticipated all her life!
Paradise, Heaven, the Pearly Gates, our Eternal Rest...mystery beyond measure!
The Bible gives us glimpses of this place of rest from earthly labors...streets of gold, myriads of angels, the throne of God, believing loved ones we have said "good by" to on this earth, and most of all, the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lover of our souls!
My almost 91 year old mom is getting very close to that glorious place. I think that all her life, she has kept heaven in view. I remember as a child she would quote this verse to me:
...eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 DRA
She applied that precious verse to heaven, and she is certainly right.* We humans cannot even imagine...but we will have our spiritual senses sharpened to take it all in. Now we experience Him & His delights as in a shadow, don't we? But then face to face!
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
I found a sweet book on Heaven in my search to find something my mom could take in with her now limited physical understanding. It's by Anne Graham Lotz. Perhaps you would like to take a look.
The older I get in the Lord, the more I realize what Jesus said is true, "Unless you become as a little child, you cannot enter [and might I add, "experience"] the kingdom of God."
As I woke up this morning, I recalled a song I have loved for years. It has a hauntingly beautiful melody, so rich in imagery. Here it is. Enjoy it in two ways. The first is the song movingly sung by a male voice; the second, at the end of a sweet medley sung by Christine Wrytzen. May you be blessed by both.
Finally Home
When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,
Unknown waves before you roll;
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,
Though fear and conflict seize your soul.
But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!
When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,
O how lonely death can be;
At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,
For death is swallowed up in victory!
But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!
[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2uZxlfFQm4']
[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX4F1eatvmY']
*In the context of 2 Corinthians 2, this verse is more broadly applied to experiencing the Lord in ever increasing measure even while here on earth. Of course in heaven, it will be full...hallelujah!
Another song shared just today by my devout cousin-in-law. Thank you, Marilyn!
[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPLO3c1LrTU']
