“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations” (Psalm 145:13a, NIV).

My wife and I chose to use our vacation money this year to invite our kids and grandkids to a Christian ranch in Colorado. Today we were gathered in a worship service at Spring Canyon Ranch, where the hook of Mount Princeton is rising in the distance. As we worshipped, I looked at those gathered, including my family, and soaked in the words we were singing:

“O praise the name of the Lord our God

O praise His name forevermore.

For endless days we will sing your praise,

O Lord, O Lord, our God!”

—”O Praise The Name (Anastasis)” – Hillsong Worship by Benjamin William Hastings

Two words clung to my heart as we were singing: “we” and “forevermore.”

I stood there peering into the promise of the presence of the Lord forever, and I settled on the word “we” with a living hope.

I realized that “I” was one of the “we”—that I would be among those included in “forevermore,” a forevermore filled with joy, praise, people, peace and presence—all that I now was experiencing as a foretaste.

But “we” was not only “I.”

I looked at my children with great love, and then I looked at their children. I saw their children’s children and all the generations beyond them who will be praising God until Christ comes again, and then “forevermore.”

And “we” included more.

I looked at those gathered in that worship room and knew that “we” included them and all those down through the ages who will join us through the ripple effect of Christ living through us.

And those I now see are such a small number compared to all who know Him in this world, through whom He will live and make Himself known.

“O praise the name of the Lord our God

O praise His name forevermore.

For endless days we will sing your praise,

O Lord, O Lord, our God!”

Dear Father,

Thank you for letting me see our future through the “thin places” in that room.

Amen