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The words to a number of hymns have been tinkered with
over the years. One is "When We All Get To Heaven." Some
renditions change the song, and title, to "When The Saved
Get To Heaven." Apparently, someone thought the old version
implied that unsaved people would be in heaven, so they
changed it.
I'm glad the older version in our song book. Although
I don't know anyone's heart but my own, I like to think
we are doing our best to serve God and we'll spend eternity
in heaven. Anyway, poetic license is taken with most
every hymn, which means the words aren't absolutely literal.
The words to "When We All Get To Heaven" are:
Verse 1 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.
Verse 2 While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds
will overspread the sky; but when traveling days are over
not a shadow, not a sigh.
Verse 3 Let us then be true and faithful, trusting,
serving every day; just one glimpse of Him in glory will
the toils of life repay.
Chorus 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.
In the remainder of this article, I want to share a few
of my thoughts from this song.
We'll Be In Heaven Because Of Jesus
Because of Jesus' love, grace, and mercy, we'll live in
heaven for eternity.
"Grace" is the friendly disposition of mind to bestow
a kindly act -- undeserved favor. And "mercy" is the outworking
of the gracious disposition toward another.
Jesus didn't come to earth, preach the gospel, commission
the apostles, die on the cross, and resurrect to heaven
because we deserve it. He did it out of obedience to His
Father, and because He loves us.
Because Jesus loves us so much, to take our sins to the
cross, we love Him in return (1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Jn. 4:19).
And because we love Him, we obey Him (Jn. 14:15).
Like another old song says, "Jesus loves me! This I know,
for the Bible tells me so. . . . Jesus loves me! He who
died, heaven's gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin.
. . . Jesus, take this heart of mine, make it pure and wholly
Thine; Thou hast bled and died for me; I will hence-forth
live for Thee.
When you get to heaven, it will be because of Jesus --
because He loves you, and you love Him.
Heaven Isn't Like Earth
Life on earth is full of trouble. Like Solomon says, "'Vanity
of vanities,' says the Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All
is vanity'" (Ec. 1:2).
Our labor seems endless, and within human terms, it's
vain: "What advantage does man have in all his work which
he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation
comes, but the earth remains forever" (Ec. 1:3-4).
But in heaven we'll rest from our labors -- heaven isn't
like earth. Paul says, "Therefore, let us fear if, while
a promise remains of entering His rest. . . . For we who
have believed enter that rest. . . ." (Heb. 4:1, 3).
In one sense, we won't rest till this life is over. In
heaven, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; "and
there will no longer be any death; there will no longer
be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have
passed away" (Rev. 21:4).
When you get to heaven, it won't be like earth. You'll
enter God's rest and spend eternity with Him.
Be Faithful, And Spend Eternity In Heaven Jesus boils it
all down to a simplistic view of life: "Be faithful until
death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
Like another popular hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's
no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
In other words, trust and obey the Lord, and leave the rest
to Him.
When you get to heaven, one glimpse of Jesus will make
the toils of life seem trivial. Be faithful until death,
and Jesus will give you the crown of life -- that's what's
important in life.
You'll Rejoice In Heaven
When you get to heaven, you'll rejoice.
The apostle John reveals that the saints will be in heaven,
worshiping God as they stand before His throne and before
the Lamb. They'll be clothed in white robes that are washed
in the Lamb's blood. They'll have palm branches in their
hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "'Salvation
to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'" (Rev.
7:10).
John paints a symbolic picture of the saints in heaven,
joyfully worshiping God.
Can you imagine what it will be like to worship God as
we stand before His throne, raising our voices to praise
and honor Him?
Will You Be In Heaven?
Preparing yourself for heaven is the most important thing
in life -- if you miss heaven, you've missed everything.
What's most important to you in life? Do you love the
Lord? Are you faithful to Him? Are you prepared for eternity?
If you died today, would you go to heaven?
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