Often I have the student members of the worship team choose songs. In the beginning it surprised me that most of their song choices are hymns. Last night, three of the songs they chose were: “Standing on the Promises, “I’ll Fly Away,” and “When We All Get to Heaven.”
I’ve often considered some of the ways that newer worship songs differ from the hymns. Many of the differences are tied to culture and history, but I’ve also noticed that contemporary worship music doesn’t often include a longing for heaven as many, if not most, of the hymns do.
There could be many reasons for this lesser or lighter focus on heaven, but I am afraid it’s because we have become comfortable. Our grandparents and great grandparents lived much more challenging lives under much more challenging circumstances. Few of us in the younger generations have struggled with basic necessities of life. In our excess we have forgotten that we are not citizens of earth. Our home is in heaven.
Let us then be true and faithful,
trusting, serving every day;
just one glimpse of Him in glory
will the toils of life repay.