When with the ransomed in glory

His face I at last shall see…

The default version that plays on the streaming platform I use is on Passion’s Everything Glorious album. If you’ve heard it, you know that the audience erupts into applause and cheering after that line, and there is a significant pause in the lyrics. Today I paused, too, and just thought about being with the ransomed and seeing Jesus’ face in glory. Tears of joy and comfort poured down my face.

This week, Rusty & I had the privilege of helping True Life Community Church with their Vacation Bible School. For five evenings, we served alongside other volunteers, sharing the gospel with more than 70 precious young souls. The “big verse” (literally… it was in giant print that covered a large part of one of the sanctuary walls!) was Psalm 139:14.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

Over and over, the kids proclaimed, “I praise GOD for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14… Psalm 139:14… Psalm 139:14!” The Koalas (the group with the 3- & 4-year-olds) took it one step further and walked between stations clutching their team jump-rope and shouting, “We are the Koalas! We are fearfully… and wonderfully… made!”

Rusty & I helped with the music (I know, everyone is shocked! Hehe!), and honestly, when we were first learning the songs and choreography, I was frustrated because I see so many adults in my generation who seem to be stuck in the shallow end of worship. I often wonder if the more recent (as in, the last couple centuries) tradition of having separate services and activities for young children that are intended to be more “fun” and “age appropriate” (which are very subjective words), has been a tool of the enemy to weaken the Church, but my concern about the “cartoon-ization” of God and it’s effect on the Body of Christ is not the point of this post.

I can only “see through a glass darkly” (I Corinthians 13:12) when I think about heaven, but I’m thankful for little glimpses I get as I study God’s Word and view my life through it. This week I got one of those glimpses.

In all the chaos and noise of 70-ish kids (plus dozens of volunteers) getting hyped about VBS, Rusty’s voice would occasionally boom across the sanctuary. One day, when the girls were excitedly screaming about having collected a greater number of school supplies, and the boys weren’t sure how to react to the announcement that they had raised more money for school supplies, Rusty boomed, “BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!” The chaos turned into an alternating chant between the boys and the girls. All the noise of all the kids and volunteers was no match for his voice.

This world is broken (or… as we sang this week, “This crazy world has gone astray. Jesus is the only way.”), which means there’s hate and pain and ugliness. In this life, people lie, cheat, steal, and hurt us in so many ways. In this life, we have deteriorating bodies. In this life, we see ugliness in places where there has been beauty.

BUT…!

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see…

Just pause and think about that! Think about the beauty and glory and awesomeness of SEEING JESUS IN HIS GLORY! All of the brokenness we see and experience in this life isn’t even close to being a match for that! And then keep singing…

‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me!

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

-AW (8/6/2022)