Glory Day

One year ago today our son Chase left us to find himself safe in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Today we are celebrating his life and the glory that he now knows. This past year has been marked by hardship, grieving the death of our son. Yet, we continue to experience the triumphant hope that only comes from the gospel and the reality of Heaven. How precious is the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ that has ransomed our dear son and carried him away to glory!



In thinking about today, we have sought to celebrate what Chase is enjoying. 1 Peter 1:13 says, ‘set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’



This has been our aim today and we invite you to join us. Best selling author and pastor Randy Alcorn has been a significant means of grace to us this year. He has helped us to dream of heaven with theologically informed minds through his book Heaven. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to set their hope fully on our eternal home. Here is a small selection that has helped us to dream.

When I anticipate my first glimpse of Heaven, I remember the first time I went snorkeling. I saw countless fish of every shape, size and color. And just when I thought I’d seen the most beautiful fish, along came another even more striking. Etched in my memory is a certain sound- the sound of a gasp going through my rubber snorkel as my eyes were opened to that breathtaking underwater world.

I imagine our first glimpse of Heaven will cause us to simply gasp inn amazement and delight. That first gasp will likely be followed by many more as we continually encounter new sights in that endlessly wonderful place. And that will be just the beginning, because we will not see our real eternal home- the New Earth- until after the resurrection of the dead. And it will far better than anything we’ve seen.

So look out your window. Take a walk. Talk with your friend. Use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. But imagine it- all of it- in its original condition. The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers unwilled, the grass undying, the blue sky without pollution. People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed and empty. If you’re not in a particularly beautiful place, close your eyes and envision the most beautiful place you’ve ever been- complete with palm trees, raging rivers, jagged mountains, waterfalls, or snow drifts.

Think of friends or family members who loved Jesus and are with him now. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. All of you have powerful bodies, stronger than those of an Olympic decathlete. You are laughing, playing, talking and reminiscing. You reach u to a tree to pick an apple or an orange. You take a bite. It’s so sweet that it’s startling. You’ve never tasted anything so good. Now you see someone coming toward you. It’s Jesus, with a big smile on his face. You fall to your knees in worship. He pulls you up and embraces you.

At last, you’re with the person you were made for, in the place you were made to be. Everywhere you go there will be new people and places to enjoy, new things to discover. What’s that you smell? A feast. A party’s ahead. And you’re invited. There’s exploration and work to be done- and you can’t wait to get started.