The Lights of Glory

by Barbara Chadwick

We were flying into the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California on a Friday evening at 5:00PM on November 19th. The lights of greater Los Angeles were startling!

There were lights in homes where families were gathering, lights in stores and malls where families were shopping, lights in parks where children were playing sports while their families watched. Lights shone from restaurants where families ate, and on and on….

There were rivers of lights criss-crossing the whole area where vehicles made their way home from work and school on the freeways.

It was beautiful! Awesome! It was just a little reminder of the glory that awaits us in heaven.

Do you remember the hymn, Because He Lives by Gloria and William Gaither

God sent His Son. They called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.


And then one day I’ll cross the river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know, I know, He holds the future; and life is worth the living just because He lives.

Today, Sunday, we had a worship service in my Mother’s apartment. She and my step-dad cannot go to church any more. It was a wonderful time of singing, prayer, and fellowship. Kenneth presented a wonderful sermon on being thankful . The scripture he used was Philippians 4:4-7:

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Kenneth talked about the things we are thankful for. Uppermost is that we have a God of love who provided a way of salvation for us through Jesus Christ, so that we can have the privilege of seeing those lights of glory and approaching the throne of Grace in heaven.