This is Just What Heaven Means to Me - The Happy Goodman Family

Enjoy good ole' Southern Gospel Music? Click HERE -    / @thegospelmessenger72   This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me is one of Southern Gospel music's most enduring songs about the hope of heaven. Written by W. Elmo Mercer, it paints a vivid picture of the eternal home promised to believers, describing a place free from darkness, storms, sorrow, conflict, and pain. Rather than focusing on the hardships of earthly life, the song invites listeners to imagine the joy of finally being in God's presence, reunited with loved ones, and worshiping Christ forever. The song became especially popular through recordings by the Happy Goodmans and later by Bill & Gloria Gaither during the Homecoming series, where it became a cherished anthem celebrating the Christian hope of eternal life. W. Elmo Mercer was a respected Southern Gospel songwriter whose compositions reflected a deep confidence in the promises of Scripture. Although he was not as widely known as some of the performers who recorded his songs, Mercer possessed a gift for expressing profound biblical truths in simple, memorable language. This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me has become his signature composition, recorded by numerous gospel artists over the decades. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Mercer's ability to capture the longing of Christians for their eternal home and to encourage believers with the certainty of heaven promised through faith in Jesus Christ. The song draws heavily from biblical descriptions of heaven found throughout the New Testament, particularly in the book of Revelation. References to an unending day where "night shall never be" echo Revelation 22:5, while the city free from storms and suffering reflects Revelation 21:1–4, where God wipes away every tear and death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more. The mention of the "glassy sea" recalls the sea of glass before God's throne in Revelation 4:6 and 15:2. The anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face reflects 1 Corinthians 13:12 and 1 John 3:2, while crowning Christ forever points to His eternal reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Finally, the hope of reuniting with loved ones is consistent with 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, where believers are promised that they will be together with the Lord forever. Through these rich biblical images, the song offers a joyful reminder that heaven is not merely a destination but the eternal presence of Christ and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. The Happy Goodman Family began around 1938. Howard Goodman (eldest of eight children) had been traveling as an evangelist and gradually began to form his seven siblings into a gospel singing group. Until the late 1950s there were various combinations of all eight brothers and sisters, always including Howard, and after 1949 his wife Vestal. They quickly became America's favorite singing family. Ranker list the Happy Goodmans as the 3rd all-time Best Southern Gospel Bands/Artists. Verse 1: A country where no twilight shadows deepen Unending days where night will never be A city where no storms will ever gather Now This is just what Heaven means to me Chorus: What will it be when we get over yonder? And join the throng upon the glassy sea To join our loved ones and crown Christ forever This is just what Heaven means to me Verse 2: And when at last we see the face of Jesus Before whose image other loves just flee When they crown Him Lord of all, I'll be there This is just what Heaven means to me CREDIT: https://sghistory.com/ https://namethathymn.com/ https://hymnary.org/ https://sogospel.fandom.com/wiki/SoGo... https://www.biblegateway.com/ #southerngospel #southerngospelmusic