Heaven Came Down

A song has been playing in my head lately, a Christian song from the 1960s. I think we sang it in church…but only on Sunday nights. At my childhood Baptist church there were songs only sung on Sunday morning such as “To God be the Glory,” “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” and “Blessed Assurance.” And then songs sung only on Sunday nights. “Standing on the Promises,” “Sing Them Over Again to Me,” and the one that’s been with me lately, “Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul.”

My brother died last week. He was 78. He died of leukemia. We saw it coming. He had been in the hospital since the 2nd of September and couldn’t get past one challenge after another. When he did pass, it was difficult. I felt a deep sadness for a good 24 hours. I lasted at work for a while but then had to go home to continue the crying. I went to Eva’s adaptive soccer game that evening and cried when I sat down, when we sang the national anthem, when she was out on the court. When I finally got home, I cried some more. And thought of heaven. Of how Steve is healed and whole for the first time in his life. “When at the cross my Savior made me whole.”

I’ve been writing about myself for Lindsay and Dugan in “Story Worth,” an online memoir.  Each Monday I get a question about my life. “What was the relationship like with your dad?” “What have been Holy Spirit moments in your life?” “What advice would you give to future generations in your family?” Questions that are for someone who has lived a while. And getting answers to these questions before it’s too late. “Heaven came down.”

I also find myself looking at the sky each evening and each dark morning. I look for the big dipper, Orion’s belt and the little dipper. I wonder what it's like on the other side, looking down at the stars versus looking up at them. It’s just such a fabulous beauty of light breaking into darkness.“And my night was turned to day.”

I don’t usually spend time thinking about my life’s end, but with my brother’s death and Story Worth and the sky, I hover a bit. I’m not scared of the end; I guess, as all of us, only wonder how it’s going to happen. But with my brother’s death, questions and stars, I find I’m thinking about heaven a bit more. 

The one question about Holy Spirit moments reminds me that I have nothing to worry about. With each transition in my life, God has been there. He’s prepared me, set me up, conditioned me for the change. I assume he'll do the same for the BIG transition. And in that I find tremendous comfort and hope. “And glory filled my soul.”

Also I’m eager to experience a sin-free life. Without regrets, without sadness and loss. Without rude remarks and judgmental thoughts. Instead, “my sins were washed away.”

So, you can see why this song keeps playing over and over in my head. It’s old, but it’s a song of hope and healing and forgiveness and being in the presence of God in all his glory. I know it’s not about going to heaven, but the kingdom of heaven coming here. But, as I said, lately I’ve been thinking about the heavenly heaven. And as I do, glory fills my soul.

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul 

When at the cross my Saviour made me whole 

My sins were washed away

And my night was turned to day

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul