Partying and Praising God with His People on Earth and in Heaven!

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, Kathy and I held a party. It was a pretty good party, if I do say so myself. Even though we could not find a day which worked for everyone we invited, I still count that at least 62 people joined us at our home for a fish fry from fish which I have caught in the last few months. We had family and neighbors, golf friends and church friends, and others who gathered for the event. Kathy and I provided fish, and drinks, and slaw, and watermelon. BUT, everyone else brought a side dish or a dessert. There may have been as much food left at the end of our party as the food which people had eaten during the event!

However, the best part of the gathering was the visiting, and sharing, and catching up, and the encouragement, and even the prayers we shared with one another. I’m not sure I saw anyone on their phones, or their computers, or watching the TV. Those present simple talked and paid attention to one another. Simply spending time together seems to be rare in today’s world. But Saturday was a joyful experience.

Later, on Monday, April 27, I did look at my Facebook post about the party, and I saw a comment from a friend. Betsy Besalski Alexander wrote, “Daddy used to LOVE your fish fry! I’m sure he was there in spirit!!” Bob Besaski became my pastor in July of 1965 when our family moved to Florida. I considered him my pastor until he died in November of 2023. As I read Betsy’s comment to Kathy, she replied, “I’m sure he knows.”

I am treading on dangerous ground as I write these words. When I write and share, I only want to write what God Himself says in Scripture. I do not want to offer what are simply guesses or opinions by myself or others. For example, do you know anyone who has lived in heaven and returned to tell us what it is like? I do not. Yet Betsy wrote, “I’m sure he was there in spirit!!” Kathy responded, “I’m sure he knows.” The Bible does give much information on this topic, while also leaving many questions. I pray that I do not add to nor take away from what God says in His Word. (See also Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19.)

Nevertheless, if you worship in a liturgical congregation, you likely confess your faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit weekly in either the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed. Consider what we say we believe at the end of the Apostles Creed. “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” Christians believe God has won eternal life by the holy life, by the sacrificial suffering and death, and by the victorious resurrection of Jesus. According to Scripture, we believe the Holy Spirit works faith in Jesus within the hearts of people. These people are then part of “the Holy Christian Church,” or part of “the communion (fellowship) of saints” (believers). I was taught that all who have believed in God’s saving actions through the promised Messiah and Savior, through Jesus, have eternal life. I was also taught that, while there is a visible church on earth today as we live in this world, nonetheless, believers in Jesus from all time form “The Holy Christian Church.” That is a big idea to grasp!

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John wrote a number of times sharing pictures of heaven he received from God. In Revelation 7 he wrote, “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-14) Those who are ‘washed in the blood of the Lamb” are in heaven, praising God.

In our communion liturgy we also praise God with the “Proper Preface:” ‘It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You . . .’ We believe there is a multitude before God’s throne praising Him, according to Revelation 7. On Sundays we believe that we join ‘with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven.” Hmmm.

So, maybe our party was even bigger than the 62 people I counted. Maybe others were there ‘in spirit’ as well. I know I am treading on dangerous ground. Nevertheless, I am thankful to be part of “The Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”

Does your membership in “The Holy Christian Church” overwhelm, or comfort you?