Imagine

MercyMe’s song “I Can Only Imagine” caught me by surprise as I was listening to the radio this morning. It is a classic, and I haven’t heard it lately. It wasn’t its surprise occurrence but rather the lyrics that set me back a pace.

Surrounded by your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for you, Jesus Or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine

This body of mine, which is broken and getting weaker, is akin to Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Not a sword wound – flesh or otherwise – and not a poison, this thorn in the flesh is relatively minor but the constant pricking is wearing me down. Like a needle being pushed repeatedly through a piece of paper, eventually the surface will tear apart. I feel like that sometimes.

But one day, when Christ returns, I will see His glory face to face and maybe I will dance, and maybe I will fall on my knees, but either way my body will be whole and I will be able to do things then that I can’t do now.

I can only imagine when that day comes And I find myself standing in the Son I can only imagine when all I will do Is forever, forever worship you I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine

But sometimes it is not my broken body that brings me the most distress. Sometimes it is my sin: constant, recurring, over and over again. I know the right but chose the wrong. I know the narrow but choose the eight-lane highway.

That, too, will one day end. When I see Jesus face to face, I will no longer be pushing against my sinful nature. I will worship Him with my whole self. Ever, only, always, worshiping my God!

At the moment, I can only imagine, but one day I will be whole. I will dance before Him without pain, and I will worship Him without sin’s constant distraction.

Amen and amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!