I got this new book by Ted Dekker on Thursday. It’s a fantastic book that addresses the world that lies beyond this world. So often we think of our life as limited to what we can see and feel, hear, taste, and touch. But if we would simply take the time to peer into this greater reality, we could live our lives here with greater enjoyment and fullness.

The book asks the question, “What would you die for?” It’s the question demanded of all martyrs for our faith. Most of us don’t understand how these courageous men and women stand firm and refuse to renounce their faith in the face of persecution and death. Ted Dekker tries to show a glimpse of the grace that our Father gives martyrs. Dekker akins this grace to a glimpse of heaven, where even the most excruciating pain in this world is nothing compared to the surpassing joy experienced there. It is like Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of the throne of God, honoring his testimony. The joy of heaven is far greater than anything we experience here.

In addition to the vision of pure joy that gives strength to these people willing to die for love, Dekker tells of a song, sung by the Father to us, that stirs a longing for heaven. This song, captured and recorded by Todd Agnew, is included with the book. I nearly wept when I heard the song for the first time. The lyrics tell of the Father’s waiting and longing for us to “come home.” Lines like, “I’m waiting to dance with you in fields full of colors you’ve never seen,” and “I’m waiting for the day when at last I’ll get to say, ‘My child, you are finally home.’” make me realize that my longing for my true home is not nearly as strong as the Father’s heart for us to return to Him.

The chorus to this song is fantastic as well. It stirs a passion to sing and dance and cry out even now, before we go home. Here it is:

Sing, oh son of Zion
Shout, oh child of Mine
Rejoice with all your heart and soul and mind
Sing, oh daughter of Zion
Cry out, oh child of Mine
Dance with all the strength that you can find
For you are finally home

Just think, if the Father is singing this to us, welcoming us to His home once again, how much is He pursuing us even now, drawing us to His side? It’s a fantastic thought, one that words cannot describe.

May we long for our eternal home in every moment and respond accordingly to the Father’s pursuit of us.

The Martyr’s Song
Todd Agnew and Ted Dekker
© 2005 Ardent/Koala (ASCAP)