Promoted to Glory

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!" (Psalm 84:1)

"Promoted to Glory" - those were the words that the minister used yesterday as he used God's Word to comfort a church full of people mourning the loss of a dear husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, honorary uncle, and dear friend. We get pretty excited over a job promotion, but imagine being promoted to GLORY! There will be no more tears, no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).

As the family sat around their loved one's bedside and sang verse four of "It is Well With my Soul"-"And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul" the Lord answered their prayer and the angels carried their loved one to his eternal home.

I pray for comfort for the entire family and his many close friends. It's difficult to lose a loved one. Praise God for His Word and for the comfort that comes only from our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that His plans are to prosper us and not to harm us and that He will listen to us when we call upon Him and come and pray to Him (Jeremiah 29:11-12).

Uncle Joe leaves behind a legacy of deep love for his family, a love for music, strong faith in his Saviour, and a hearty laugh that will be remembered by anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

I know my Dad is rejoicing as another one if his close friends has joined him in glory! We can only imagine what his promotion to glory is like.

"I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, yeah, yeah, yeah

Surrounded by your glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine, yeah, yeah
I can only imagine, Yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, Ohh yeah
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do
is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine."