Heaven is not like this

Yvonne "Von" Johnson was an aspiring actress who became a Christian. After she became a Christian, she used her talents to lead a theater ministry at Baldwin Hills Baptist Church in Los Angeles. She wrote and produced plays that always had a message of salvation and hope. For about three years in the mid-80's Von bugged me about writing songs for a play she was writing. The title of the play is Wings Like Eagles.

I really didn't have the vision or interest but cranked out ten songs for Wings Like Eagles. She nagged me incessantly to write a song about heaven. I had been drained from the ten songs I completed and just didn't have another one in me.

If you would like a copy of the sheet music, let me know. It is my free gift to you!

In 1986 I was broken. I had been minister of music at my church for about eight years. We were having problems with attendance and commitment. Someone suggested locking choir members out when they didn't arrive on time. I rejected that suggestion because I knew that was not Godly and certainly not a solution to the problem.

After I rejected the idea of locking people out, I was villified. I sat through a meeting with pastors of the church. The senior pastor took notes as each person went down the line talking about how controlling I was, arrogant, unwilling to listen to other people and on and on. That one meeting turned into three. I did not fall apart during those meetings. I had loving friends who prayed for me and with me. They also cried with me.

One day as I cried, I sat at the piano and thought about what I was going through. Then the lyrics to Heaven started flowing freely. "Heaven is not like this. It's full of harmony and bliss."

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

Heaven is not like this. It’s full of harmony and bliss.

There will be a wedding there and a feast beyond compare.

Heaven has so many rooms for the bride and the groom.

You won’t be denied if you’ve been sanctified.

Chorus

There will be walls of jasper, streets of gold.

No need for a lamp! Heaven is lit by His glory.

Living water, healing trees. It’s real! It’s not a dream.

Heaven is not like this.

In heaven we’ll see God’s face. Entrance is by His grace.

Christ’s forgiveness of our sin is the only way you can get in.

Heaven has no disease, just fulfillment of all our needs.

All will be supplied by Christ who satisfies.

Heaven is where I’ll praise Christ forever and always,

Singing Thou art worthy Lord for evermore.

In heaven I’ll serve the King and reap the pleasure new life brings.

I’m a stranger in this land, holding to my Father’s hand.

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Heaven became the most remembered song from "Wings Like Eagles." Ironically, one of the ladies, who was the source of my tears, sang the song and continues to sing it. Even today, people are blessed by Heaven.

When Von passed away, she requested that Heaven be done for her funeral. It was done for her mother's funeral, her father's funeral, her sister and my dear friend Esther Preston's funeral, as well as countless other people who have gone on to be with the Lord in heaven.