Apologies for such a predictable answer but I’m most excited about Heaven – or to be more specific, the New Heaven and the New Earth. Will it be up there or down here? It’ll be everywhere 😀.
Rev 21:1-4
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
People debate about the specifics, but it seems that the universe will be transformed, and God will dwell with us.
I’m in my sixties now 😀. So, I can’t imagine anything happening in the coming years that would be amazingly exciting. Maybe having grandchildren, having a healthy and active old age, or discovering that some rich person left me all their money. But I’ve been long enough in this world to know that bad things happen as well as good things, so I try to focus on better times beyond this world. Either the Lord will return before I die:
1 Thess 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Or, I’ll die first, but that’ll be fine too, as the Apostle Paul points out here:
Philippians 1:22-24
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Songs About Heaven
I like reading about heaven in the Scriptures, but I also like singing about heaven. Many hymns speak of heaven, but you also hear plenty of songs about it in secular music.
Knocking On Heaven’s Door
This is the first Bob Dylan song I ever heard, back in 1973. It reminds me of “Ol’ Man River” – sung by someone who is weary of life. And we all get weary. It is a comfort to know that the next phase will be better, if we trust in the Saviour.
Tears in Heaven
Again, this is another sad song. It feels like Eric Clapton is briefly looking into heaven, where his young child is gone to. He knows he can’t stay there, but there is a little bit about the future:
Beyond the door
There’s peace, I’m sure
And I know there’ll be no more
Tears in Heaven
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
This song is often sung by England national rugby team fans. It’s an African American spiritual. Again, it feels sad but draws comfort from what God has in store. as stated in 1 Cor 2:9.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Wonderful Time Up There
Here’s a happier one by the great Johnny Cash. It’s included on his gospel album A Believer Sings the Truth. I bought that album around the time of my conversion. I left it out of its sleeve, and our dog destroyed it with his claws. See what I mean about bad things happening as well as good in this world 😀?
When We All Get to Heaven
And this is a new one to me. Many people have covered it. I am excited about hearing all the versions. It’s great to be living in the age of YouTube.
In church, you get some hymns that focus solely on heaven, but many standard hymns on other subjects have a last verse about heaven. An example is Guide Me O Though Great Jehovah (another “rugby” song sung by Welsh rugby fans)
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
When I tread the verge of Jordan
Bid my anxious fears subside
Death of death, and hell's destruction
Land me safe on Canaan's side
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee
Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee
Some Christians might find it upsetting to see songs sung in worldly settings, but I think it’s great to see Christian music breaking out of the church. We all face death in the future, and we should all encourage each other to believe in the one who has defeated death.
Thine Be The Glory
So let’s move back into a church for our final hymn:
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
And even if many secular songs don’t have clear teaching about heaven, maybe the very word heaven might remind people of it:
- “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” – Belinda Carlisle
- “Pennies from Heaven” – Frank Sinatra
- “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” – Tavares
- “Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
- “Hurts Like Heaven” – Coldplay
- “Heaven for Everyone” – Queen
- “Heaven’s in Here” – Tin Machine (David Bowie’s band)
- “Heaven Is a Place I Dream Of” – Frank Sinatra
- “Heaven” – Depeche Mode
- “Heaven Is Here” – Florence + The Machine
- “Heaven Knows” – Donna Summer
- “Heaven” – Beyoncé
- “Heaven Help” – Lenny Kravitz
- “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” – Kenny Chesney
But I’d be more interested in checking out Christian material, such as the following songs:
- “When We All Get to Heaven” – Eliza E. Hewitt
- “Heaven Song” – Phil Wickham
- “Hymn of Heaven” – Phil Wickham
- “Heaven’s Now My Home” – Libby L. Allen
- “One Day (When We All Get to Heaven)” – Matt Redman
- “As It Is (In Heaven)” – Hillsong Worship
- “Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul” – John W. Peterson
- “Heaven Is My Home” – Jim Reeves
- “Heaven Bound (I’m Ready)” – The Oak Ridge Boys
- “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All” – Traditional Gospel
- “Heavenly Sunlight” – H. J. Zelley & George H. Cook
- “Heavenly Father, We Appreciate You” – Children’s Worship Song
- “Heavenly Love” – The Cathedrals
- “Heavenly Home” – The Primitive Quartet
- “Heavenly Highway” – The Chuck Wagon Gang
- “Heavenly Light” – The Statler Brothers
- “Heavenly Peace” – Contemporary Christmas Worship
- “Heavenly Joy” – Traditional Spiritual
- “Heavenly Grace” – Modern Worship (various artists)
- “Heavenly Father, I Appreciate You” – Praise & Worship Chorus
And these are only the ones with heaven in the title. Many more have heaven as their subject.
- When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
- I’ll Fly Away
- Beulah Land
- In the Sweet By and By
- Shall We Gather at the River
- I Am Bound for the Promised Land
- I Am Waiting for the Dawning
- There’s a Sound on the Wind (Victory Song)
- O That Will Be Glory
- The Feast is Ready
- Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious
- In hope your hearts rejoice
- Ten thousand times ten thousand
- The King shall come, when morning dawns
- This World is Not My Home
Hibernia Gospel 
I’m glad you have a very positive mindset about the gospel. I sure wish I was more positive.
I had a dream last night, that today was going to be a good day. I enjoyed reading your post. May you be blessed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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