When I was a little kid, there was one thing about our family’s faith in Jesus which caused significant worry and fear in me. Eternity! It was so impossible to comprehend and the idea of unending life in heaven made me scared. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it and I wasn’t sure I wanted that.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experienced the brokenness, pain, and depravity of life in this world, which has produced a longing for a different world. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been reminded that my body is wasting away and will not last forever. When I’ve buried family and friends, I’ve thought more and more about heaven.
While I still can’t wrap my head around eternity, I can now say I’m looking forward to life with God that knows no end in a place without sin, evil, pain, and injustice. The idea of a perfect body sounds pretty nice, without cholesterol levels to monitor or aching joints to consider.
Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake’s new song, “People of Heaven,” expresses the joy and longing for eternal life which many of us are feeling these days. The anthem, which ended the concerts on their recent tour, reminds believers of both our salvation in the present and our life with God in the future.
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In describing the origin of the song, Brandon Lake noted, “Phil Wickham, Brandon Breitenbach and I wanted to write a song for this season, a song that would remind us of the hope and future we have. And we ended up writing and recording this JOY BOMB in a matter of hours and releasing it days later.”
The song certainly makes you want to move and the tone is intended to bring joy and vibrancy when listened to or sung in a group. Beyond good vibes, the song intends to remind listeners of what Jesus has done for us and what we’ve received from Him in our salvation.
“For all we've been given
Saved and set apart
Ashes into art
Children of the King”
Meditating on what we have because of Jesus produces joy. As we read through the Bible, we see how important joy is, as we are continually reminded to practice and pursue it. Specifically, we discover three truths about joy which may seem counter-intuitive.
First, 1 Thessalonians 5 reminds us that joy is for all seasons of our lives. Paul wrote, “Always be joyful.” While our circumstances might not feel joyful, we can access joy by focusing on what Jesus has done for us and who we are in Him. As Henri Nouwen wrote, “joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”
Second, joy points us to what awaits us with God in eternity. Paul wrote these words in Romans 8. “We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)”
While we don’t have what we hope for, eternal life with God in heaven, joy is available to us as a reminder today! C.S. Lewis described this well when he wrote, “All joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still ‘about to be.’”
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Third, joy is available to us as we trust in God; we do not manifest it in ourselves. In Romans 15, Paul wrote, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.” Being joyful isn’t a burden for us to carry, but an opportunity to pray to and trust in God to fill us with it. This is why joy is the second item listed in the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives.
When I listened to Lake and Wickham sing “People of Heaven,” I was reminded that who we are and what we have is from God, not from us. Our life on earth and our life in heaven are a result of God’s gifts and kindness to us. We will live forever and as they sing, “the future is bright, we’ll be dancing in the streets.”
If you’re feeling the darkness of this world or worry about the future, I encourage you to turn on “People of Heaven” and trust God to bring joy and peace in your heart as you look to and depend on Him.
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps you laugh, challenges you to think, and invites you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and watches lots of football with his wife and three kids. You can learn more about Scott’s new free resource, The Gratitude Muscle Challenge, at scottsavagelive.com.
