Oh, That Will Be Glory

Oh, That Will Be Glory
Charles H. Gabriel

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain:
Oh, that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will flow;
Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

One of the very popular ideas among Christians -- actually, among most anybody thinking about heaven -- is the idea that we'll meet up with our friends and loved ones there. I had an ex-coworker call me up one time and ask me, "Do dogs go to heaven? Because if my dog doesn't go to heaven, I don't want to be there." We are reminded at funerals that we will be reunited with them on the other side. We really like that.

Me? Not so much. I know. It sounds mean. I don't mean it to be. Charles Gabriel captured my feelings on the matter in this song. What I'm really looking forward to is not more time with family or the opportunity to ask Paul what he meant when he said _____ or any such thing. I'm looking forward to the day "when by His grace I shall look on His face." Don't get me wrong. I love my family. Even though it will someday likely occur, I can't imagine life here without my wife or my parents, for instance. Very sad. But there? "Friends will be there I have loved long ago; joy like a river around me will flow. Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know, will through the ages be glory for me." How does one express that properly and not sound unkind to one's loved ones?