“When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!” The next song we will reflect on is “When We All Get to Heaven”. Singing this song in a large group of Christians might be one of my favorite experiences on this earth. It almost feels like a little piece of Heaven on earth, makes you wonder how it will feel on that day when we come home to our God. Here is a recording on youtube if you would like to listen, https://youtu.be/3anHQUZCsgU?si=Jyu8641zVzZPZ1sk. (I couldn’t find a recording with verse 4.) Here are the lyrics.
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 trav’ling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh. [Refrain]
Verse 3
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving ev’ry day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay. [Refrain]
Verse 4
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open–
We shall tread the streets of gold. [Refrain]
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!
First verse, “Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace” (V.1). We know that without Christ’s mercy and grace we wouldn’t have a chance or hope of heaven (1 Peter 1:3). He came to this earth to suffer for us, and give us a home in heaven with him. “In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place” (V.1). John 14:2-3 says: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”. Christ has prepared our place in heaven with him! This thought alone should encourage us to press on to the goal.
Second verse, “While we walk the pilgrim pathway clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav’ling days are over not a shadow, not a sigh” (V.2). 1 Peter 2:11 refers to us as “strangers and pilgrims”, meaning we are only traveling through this sinful world. Our journey isn’t easy, and it often can seem impossible. But once we reach the end of our traveling days there will not be a cloud in the sky or a sigh from our souls.
Third verse, “Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving ev’ry day” (V.3). The reward of following Christ is great, but not all will receive it. Luke 9:23 tells us “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. In order to reach this prize, we must serve the Lord every day of our lives. We must know that our lives aren’t our own but Christ’s. “Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay” (V.3). Imagine yourself in the presence of God. The one who created us, and the one who saved us. It gives me goosebumps to even try and picture that in my mind. The toils of life are many, but it will be worth it the moment we see God in all his glory welcoming us to our new home in heaven.
Fourth verse, “Onward to the prize before us!” (V.4). In Philippians 3:14, Paul states “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. During our life on earth, as Christians, we are running a race as described in Hebrews 12:1 and following. Heaven is our great prize, and we must be faithful to recieve it. Once we cross that finish line, God will be waiting for us with a home prepared. “Soon His beauty we’ll behold” (V.4). 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, describes for us what it will be like when Christ returns, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”. Christ will descend and we will behold him in all his beauty, we will meet him in the sky and we will know this earth no more. Can you imagine? Our savior Jesus Christ is coming back for us, to deliver us to the Father in our new home! “Soon the pearly gates will open–We shall tread the streets of gold” (V.4). Revelation 21:21 describes this, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass”. This is figurative language of course, for we know Heaven is a spiritual realm and won’t be like things of this earth, but the writer is describing its beauty in ways we can understand. Heaven’s beauty will be beyond our mortal comprehension, and I can’t wait to view that holy city!
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!” (Ch.). Can you imagine? Have you ever been a part of a singing somewhere and wondered if that’s what heaven would be like? It will be so much better! Every faithful Christian to ever walk this earth will be there. Revelation 5:11-13 displays how there will be continual praises around the throne of God. Listen to John describe this, “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”. We will forever praise our Lord. He has defeated death and we have obtained our victory. Eternity we will spend in heaven where there will be no sadness (Revelation 7:17, Isaiah 25:8). All will be joy forever! Does this idea bring you joy? Or are you dreading that day?