Daily devotion: A taste of Heaven
A Foretaste of Heaven
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun…”
These familiar and timeless lines from Amazing Grace came to my heart last night during our Thanksgiving Prayer Service at the chapel. As the microphones were passed around the room, each person gave thanks to the Lord for the wondrous things He has done in their lives. It was truly something to behold. Time and again voices broke, hearts overflowed, and God’s people—His redeemed—gave thanks from the deepest places of their souls.
As I listened, it struck me: this is what Heaven will be like. John Newton captured it so simply and so powerfully—eternity will be filled with unhurried, unrestrained praise to Jesus Christ. No hesitation. No time limits. No weariness. Just endless thanksgiving to the One who saved us, redeemed us, and brought us safely home. And we will thank Him face to face!
Revelation gives us a glimpse of that eternal song:
Revelation 5:11–14
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
Last night, in a small chapel in Secret Harbour, a group of God’s redeemed gathered to give thanks—and for that moment, Heaven touched earth. A foretaste of glory filled the sanctuary.
May our hearts always be softened and overflowing with thanksgiving to our Lord!
Psalm 30:12 “To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”