I have long longed for heaven. Maybe you have too. Life on this earth is filled with love, joy, and beauty, but it’s also filled with trials, hardships, and suffering. I long for a day when I will leave my broken body behind and receive a new spiritual body. But mostly, I long for Jesus. To meet Him face to face is something I can’t even begin to imagine. But oh, what a day that will be!
You may be familiar with the hymn “What a Day that Will Be” (if not, you can listen to it here). This beautiful song fills my heart with longing, joy, and anticipation. My heart bursts with praise to the One who died and rose from the grave to save me, the One who offers me peace and joy, the One who dries my tears—Jesus.
Who Wrote the Song 'What a Day that Will Be'?
Jim Hill wrote “What a Day that Will Be” in 1955. Word Wise Hymns shares the story behind the song. The story began when Jim Hill’s mother-in-law suffered a stroke when she was only 50. Hill was a new Christian and didn’t understand why God would allow such a good woman to suffer so. One day while on his way home from work, He began thinking about a verse in Revelation that describes the day when all our troubles will be behind us. He exclaimed, “What a day that will be!” When he got home, he saw some cardboard and began writing on it. Those words became the song many have loved over the years. “What a Day that Will Be” has been encouraging believers for almost 70 years!
What Is the Song 'What a Day that Will Be' About?
On first listen, “What a Day that Will Be” seems to be about the day we first meet Jesus face to face. The day when all sorrow and suffering end and we enter heaven. But if we dig deeper and read the verses that inspired the song, it’s much more than that first heavenly encounter with Jesus.
The lyrics speak of the eternity we will spend as Jesus leads us into the Promised Land. That Promised Land is a brand-new earth. The new earth is where we will spend eternity and experience peace forever – no more tears, sickness, pain, or suffering. What a day that will be! A lot needs to happen before we begin our lives on the new earth. In “7 Facts about the Second Coming of Jesus,” DiAne Gates does a fabulous job creating a timeline of the end times. If you’re looking for a shorter read, try Vivian Bricker’s article, “What Do We Know about the Second Coming of Jesus?” You can also read Revelation 20 to read about the events that happen right before God gives us the new heaven and new earth.
What Bible Verses Connect to 'What a Day that Will Be'?
The Bible verse that inspired Jim Hill to write “What a Day that Will Be” is Revelation 21:4. It reads, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (CSB). I highly encourage you to read all of Revelation 21. This beautiful chapter is filled with the hope and beauty of our future with God.
Several Bible verses talk about seeing Jesus. When Jesus was being questioned by the Sanhedrin before His death here on earth, the High Priest stood up and asked Jesus a direct question. We read their conversation in Mark 14:61-62:
“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (emphasis added)
In John 16:16, Jesus said to His disciples, “In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while, you will see me.” They were confused, so He explained in verse 22, “So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.”
We will not just see Jesus; we will spend eternity with Him. Oh, what a day that will be!
Do Christians Put Their Hope in Going to Heaven?
There are many misconceptions about heaven and where we will spend eternity, even in the church. Heaven isn’t harps and puffy clouds and boredom. Heaven is where we will worship God, yet we won’t live there permanently.
What do you imagine heaven to look like? Do you imagine the radiance of heaven like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal? Do you imagine streets of gold as clear as glass? Do you imagine heaven adorned with jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst? Do you imagine huge gates, each made from a single pearl? All of these descriptions are indeed biblical. They come from Revelation 21. However, they’re not talking about heaven. These words describe the new Jerusalem on the new earth. This is where we will spend eternity with Jesus.
We will have work to do just like Adam and Eve had in the Garden of Eden before the fall. We will not be bored and won’t float around on clouds for eternity. We’ll dwell with God. Revelation 21:3 says, “Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.” The true gift of eternity is intimacy with the Holy God.
No doubt heaven is beyond comprehension, and the new earth will be incredible. But do we long for heaven, or do we long for Jesus? My flesh longs for heaven, yet my soul longs for Jesus. Our hope is not in a place but in a person. Our hope is in Jesus.
If you don’t know Him, you can start a relationship with Him today. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
How Does 'What a Day that Will Be' Encourage Us Today?
The song “What a Day that Will Be” encourages us today. It reminds us of the joy to come and points us to the One who loves us deeply. God cares about our lives here on earth. What we do and who we are is not wasted. God made us on purpose, for a purpose. Our lives weren’t an accident, and it’s not a mistake that we are living on earth now.
I confess that I used to live my life waiting for the perfection of heaven. I lived for someday and didn’t embrace what God was doing in my life here on earth amid pain and suffering. But God showed me that His promises aren’t just for someday. They’re for today. We may have to wait to see Jesus face to face, but we don’t have to wait to be with Him. After all, if we’ve placed our faith in Him, we’re united with Jesus Christ. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. God longs for relationship with us now and for all eternity. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus. Immanuel, God with us.
If you enjoyed this article about a popular Christian hymn, you may enjoy the following:
Who Wrote the Hymn “Take Time to be Holy”?
5 Hymns You Should be Singing in Your Home
The Beautiful Meaning behind the Old Hymn “Blessed Assurance”
The Powerful Story Behind the Hymn “I Love to Tell the Story”
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