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SING TO ME OF HEAVEN by Mike McNair Mike was reared in Dripping Springs by his parents, John and Lou McNair. He and his wife Chris have been married for 22 years and have three daughters: Nicole, Lori, and Danielle. Mike graduated from the Southwest School of Bible Studies in July of 1995, and went on to complete their graduate program a year later. Since then, Mike has received degrees from Southern Christian University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and he is currently working toward his Ph.D. at Texas Tech University. Mike has served the Lord’s church in four different congregations: Upton, Texas; Helena, Montana; Burns Flat, Oklahoma; and Arapaho, Oklahoma. He has also had the opportunity to teach in the Oklahoma School of Bible Studies. Sing to me of heaven, Sing that song of peace, From the toils that bind me It will bring release. Burdens will be lifted that are pressing so Showers of great blessings O’er my heart will flow. Sing to me of heaven As I walk alone, Dreaming of the comrades That so long have gone; In a fairer region Mong the angel throng, They are happy As they sing that old sweet song. Sing to me of heaven, Tenderly and low, Til the shadows o’er me rise And swiftly go; When my heart is weary, When the day is long, Sing to me of heaven, Sing that old sweet song. When one stops and thinks about it, just how many songs have we sung concerning Heaven? “In the Sweet By and By” and “When We All Get To Heaven,” are just two examples. But around the globe, hearts yearn for confidence of a divine and eternal place where they can be with God. “Sadly in recent years there has been more confusion in the minds of the people about Heaven and less understanding of the Bible doctrine concerning that glorious place.” (Rice 10) The Name of Heaven Within the Holy Scriptures, the term Heaven signifies three locals. The first is where the clouds and birds are located (Gen. 1:20); the next speaks of the local where the stars of the sky shine. Expressly, Heaven is known as the dwelling place of God. While God is known to be omnipresent, He reveals Himself in a special manner in the light and magnificence of that firmament. (New Advent, 1) This is the region which concerns us in this article. In this spiritual region, one may find a place of unmixed and unending happiness. (Edwards, 11) In the Scriptures, this local is called: The kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3) The kingdom of God (Mark 9:46) The kingdom of the Father (Matt. 8:43) The kingdom of Christ (Luke 22:30) The house of the Father (John 14:2) The city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12) The holy place (Heb. 9:12) Paradise (2 Cor. 12:4) Life (Matt. 7:14) Life everlasting (Matt. 26:16) The joy of the Lord (Matt. 25:21) Crown of Life (James 1:12) Crown of Justice (2 Tim. 4:8) Crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4) Incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25) The great reward (Matt. 5:12) The inheritance of Christ (Eph. 1:18) The eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15) Recognition of Others in Heaven Whether fully aware of all the implications which attach to the matter or not, our hope of heaven and our expectation of future bliss have been conditioned on the understanding that some wondrous day we shall be privileged together up the sundered threads of this existence so rudely severed in death, and in the company of dear loved ones and valued friends gone on before enjoy the ineffable bliss of paradise forever and ever and ever. (Woods) As a father and a Bible class teacher, the questions even the young ask are “How will we be able to tell who each other are when we get to Heaven?” Every parent, teacher, and preacher struggles to give an adequate answer to such a demanding question. The best I could tell my own children was nametags would be my best guess. Even today, I must still answer the question the exact same way. This is not done to be silly, but the truth is we just do not know how. We are promised that we will recognize not just our loved ones who have gone on before us, but we will be able to recognize the famous brethren who have went on. And these individuals, such as Peter, John, Matthew, Stephen, and Barnabus will recognize us as children of the most High God. “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part: but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12) What Will It Be Like In Heaven? What comes to your mind when you think of the term “home”? To me, it is a red brick home in a small ranching town west of Austin, Texas. A place where, as a child, I could walk across the main highway, most often without being concerned about traffic, to get to church services, and during the week cross the same main highway and attend public school. Where I could come home from school alone and not have to worry about locking the doors for safety. If we now think of the term “heaven” what comes to mind? We often focus on the potential physical aspects of heaven. We find in John 14:2, “In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Individuals often attempt to describe physical buildings and streets in heaven by looking at the twenty- first chapter of Revelation. As an individual who spent fifteen years in the construction trade, something became apparent. All the finery being described in the chapter was exactly contrary to what we humans hold dear. It seems to an old construction worker that what was being described were not the great riches that the city possessed but what was held precious to individuals, pure gold, jewels, riches were nothing but basic building materials. Jesus said so many times, in many different ways…”Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Being a “daddy’s boy”, it is difficult at times to comprehend that my earthly father has been gone from this earth for over a decade. When I was a small boy, it was my sole desire that I be near him. I knew I was loved, protected, and provided for. Today I have access to all his tools, his guns, his hunting clothes, and other things. But it’s not the same: I miss him more and more every day. Now think of Heaven. There are those who actually believe that all they want to accomplish in their spiritual quest is to simply get their foot in the door of heaven and they will be happy. How can that be? Can you imagine that the Heavenly Father makes us a place where there is no sickness, no death, no troubles, and no temptation but that He is not going to have any real contact with us? I don’t know about you, but if that is the case I’m not sure I want to go! As I mentioned above, I miss my earthly father. I long to see his face, to hear his voice, to feel the touch of his hand. Likewise, if I’m faithful to God and live my life Christ like, I want my Heavenly Father there with me, and there is no way I could be content with simply being in His “house”. I want to be with Him. Whether the house is made of gold won’t matter; whether the streets are simple dirt won’t matter. I want to be with my Heavenly Father. To see His face, to hear His voice, to feel the touch of His hand, forever and ever and ever! Don’t you too? BIBLIOGRAPHY Brewer, G.C. Heaven and what will it be to be there? The Spiritual Sword. Vol. 8 Num. 2 January, 1977. Cooper, John, W. Body, Soul & Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1989. Dixon, H.A. Heaven, The Home of the Soul. The Spiritual Sword. Vol. 8 Num. 2. January 1977. Gerstner, John. Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell. Baker Book House. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1980. Hendren, Bob Life Without End: A reassuring Look at Life, Death and Beyond. Journey Books: An SPC Publication. Austin, Texas. 1981. Rice, John R. Bible Facts About Heaven: Sweet Home of the Lord Jesus and Departed Saints. Sword of the Lord Publishers. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 1940. Schoonhoven, Calvin, R. The Wrath of Heaven. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1966. Woods, Guy, N. Shall We Know Each Other in Heaven? The Spiritual Sword Vol. 8 Num. 2. January 1977. http:www.newadvent.org/cathen/07170a.htm http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/finland/618/singhven.htm