David Bahn – Reflections

Revelation 14:13

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

I had the privilege, last Sunday, of offering the message for the Victory Celebration Service of a true Soldier of the Cross, Rev. Harold Heckmann. I consider it a high honor to lead the team at St. John in planning and hosting this celebration Pastor and Mrs. Heckmann have been members here only a short time. We entertained at least 300 people for the meal following the service itself. The people of St. John responded wonderfully, graciously, and with a level of hospitality and compassion that was palpable. Thanks be to God!

Pastor Heckmann had provided an outline for the service, a list of 12 hymns – some of which we sang as a pre-service hymn-sing, and then following that, a wonderful, inspiring service with Scripture readings and even the outline of the message provided to me. Here is the online he provided me for the message that day:

• Hard days – Keep your eye on Jesus – Hebrews 11
• Victory Days – Something better is promised – Hebrews 12, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; John 14:1-6; Psalm 23.

I took the ball and ran with it, noting among other things that in particular the second point of his outline took me somewhere I had not expected. I would have said, “Victory Days – Thank God!” When good things happen; when someone “gets it”; when the church is flourishing; when a soul is saved. It seems to me that would be a good time to thank God. I believe brother Heckmann would agree about thanking God. But he took a different turn, and I am truly thankful for his insight.

His thought was that on those victory days we should remember that there is something better promised. Indeed there is! Consider these words:

Hebrews 12:22-24

…you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Just before the message we sang the hymn, Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng. The final stanza of that hymn goes:

Praise Him who reigns on high,
The Lord whom we adore:
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

I was nearly overcome in those moments – catching a glimpse of the splendor and glory of heaven. Somehow that idea really grabbed my heart, and I want to embrace it well: In those days when things go well, and you see the victory of righteousness, mercy, grace, and truth, remember: something better is promised. It is the eternal glory of heaven which we and all believers in Christ will enjoy on the Great Last Day, when Christ returns and takes his people to himself. In the mean time, we will experience hard times: keep your eyes on Jesus. And when the joyful times come, remember that something better is promised to those who are in Christ.