Eyes Heavenward

This Sunday we had an RUF Hymn Sing at a family's home in Auburn. It reminded me of how much I love hymns. There is something incomparable about the rich and raw lyrics. I love thinking about how Christians for centuries have been struggling with the same emotions, singing the same words, and praising the same God. The Lord was so gracious to use this time to remind me that the reason I love hymns is because they point straight to HIM! As I sang the truth of the Gospel in so many beautiful ways, I was once again knocked off my feet by it. The God of the universe loved me enough to pour out his wrath against sin on his own son, and impute that son's perfect record to me! Wow! Christ's work on the cross made it possible for us to spend eternity worshipping Yahweh. I felt like I got a little shadow on Sunday of what it will be like to do so. What is so incredible is that in glorifying him, we actually have inexplicable joy! As John Piper always says, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. An eternity of bliss awaits those of us who belong to the Lord, because He is the only source of true joy. Everything we experience on earth is but a mist. One of my favorite characteristics of hymns is that more often than not, the last verse points heavenward. Each ends with a focus on where my eyes should be looking more often than they do. Here are some of my favorite heavenward verses, as we wait with glad expectation for what the blood of Christ has already accomplished for us.

At death, beyond the grave, He'll love;

In endless bliss, His own shall prove

The blazing glory of that love

Which never could from them remove.

-The Love of Christ

O I am my Beloved's

And my Beloved is mine!

He brings a poor vile sinner

Into His house of wine

I stand upon His merit - 

I know no other stand

Not e'en where glory dwelleth

In Emmanuel's land

-The Sands of Time are Sinking

Haste thee on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heaven's eternal days before thee,

God's own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition,

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

-Jesus I My Cross Have Taken

The golden evening

brightens in the west;

Soon, soon to faithful

warriors comes their rest;

Sweet is the calm

of paradise the blessed.

Alleluia, Allelu

-For All the Saints