Sing The Song Of Saints!

Sometimes it’s hard to sing the Song of Saints because we’re so busy with life and trying to survive. But we would have an easier time dealing with life if we remembered the second verse of the Song of Saints. It goes like this: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:12) Instead of relying on our own smarts and strength to get ahead in life, why not rely on the one who is truly wise and powerful? But if God is so wise and powerful why do we suffer? Why do we struggle to find affordable housing? Why can’t we kick that nagging cold or bout of depression? Maybe God isn’t all-powerful? He is. Remember, the Song of Saints is one we learn to sing by faith. Faith is believing in advance what makes sense only in reverse (Philip Yancey). It’s only once we get to heaven will we see just how powerful and wise God was and is.

John received a glimpse of God’s power in his vision. He saw people from all nations and walks of life brought together in one place and singing with one heart and voice. Only God can unite people like that. Countless people and philosophies have tried to do the same thing here on earth but sin continues to divide us. I was reminded of that a couple of weeks ago in North Dakota. I was there for a conference when the shootings at Virginia Tech occurred. When word started to trickle out that the shooter was an Asian foreign student, one of the motel workers muttered under her breath: “Figures.” What a sweeping judgmental statement to make – assuming most non-North Americans are mentally unstable and violent. Of course I’m no better because when I boarded my flight to come back to Edmonton I looked warily at a few passengers that looked different than I. Oh I can’t wait for heaven because there such distrust will be removed and people of all nations will be united because sin will no longer exist.

But that’s not the only blessing we have to look forward to in heaven. John reports that in heaven the Good Shepherd will continue to serve us. John wrote: “…he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:15b-17). I’ve often wondered why we’re told that in heaven God will spread his tent over us. A tent seems so primitive and temporary. Of course we have to remember that God isn’t thinking of a Coleman tent. Such a tent was unknown to the people of John’s day. Rather they would have thought of those sturdy tents carried around by nomads that were more RV than tent. I think the point with the tent is closeness. In heaven we’ll be close to God (not that he isn’t close to us now), not just in the same area code, we’ll be in his tent. Close enough for God to reach over and wipe the tears off our face! A God like that deserves our songs of praise.