I praise you, Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of all, for the meaning you give us in life, for the possibility of having purpose, which can only flow from you. Without you all else is, from a human perspective, meaningless, random, chaos, and chance.

In contrast, in you there is order, a place in your affections, a part in your great plans, and participation in eternity. We are not caught in a time box with just so many years and then nothing. As we move through the autumn and winter of our lives, we have the definite hope of another spring followed by an endless summer where life will continue with you throughout eternity.

That will be life on a higher, wider, brighter plain, free from brokenness, anguish, disappointment and rebellion. We will walk with you in lightness, fullness, warmth and joy, unhindered by the twistedness of this present, sin-choked existence.

We will be with you, Lord Jesus, in body, soul and spirit, free to obey, worship, work and love without that constant battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.

And even now we live in the Kingdom of light. We are accepted, loved and valued. We have worth and in Jesus we are competent. We can follow Him in paths of righteousness, we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and we can find our joy in Him. How much more great will it be in Heaven?