"Hallelujah"

Dad slipped away,

One winter day,

And crossed the great divide,

For twenty years,

He’s had no tears,

He said to say he tried.

My sister drowned,

And heaven’s sound,

Is sweet as it can be,

She’s dancing there,

Beyond compare,

And what a sight to see.

My mother, too,

Went there it’s true,

Her joy was made complete,

His presence shines,

No more confines,

Her by and by is sweet.

So many friends,

Were washed and cleansed,

His blood to make them sure,

And now they’re gone,

Where they belong,

And to the end endure.

I do not doubt,

That heaven’s shout,

Is louder than this world,

And joy supreme,

Makes true the dream,

Love’s banner is unfurled.

One day I’ll go,

Don’t really know,

When He will call my name.

Shout hallelujah,

God’s love runs through ya,

We live for Jesus’ fame.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven…” (Colossians 3:1, NLT)

Every time someone we know personally goes to heaven, it makes it even more real. The fact that believers in Jesus can look forward to heaven is one of the most amazing, wonderful things about following Jesus. What does it mean to set your sights on heaven. Perhaps it’s about personally reminding ourselves to stay focused on what will last forever and less caught up in this world. The older one gets the more aware we are of our own mortality. We know life passes quickly, and eternity beckons us. If our lives are focused on heaven, the transition from here to there will go smoothly, and as expected. We are going home to our Father. Hallelujah!

Lord, help us to keep an eternal focus, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.