In Revelation chapter 14, the 144,000 sing their praises to God. Avoiding all the crazy guestimates about the meaning of numbers and identities, obviously, these are all the saints of all time praising God Most High. Like the angels who sing to those watchful Christmas shepherds, saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ (Luke 2: 8-14 for the full story). During Advent, we love to sing the carol ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’, which is a resounding musical echo of glorious praise for the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Now, it’s true that loud noises aren’t always among our favorite things. Annoying ones, like when trucks run compressors to clean household rugs. Or when, on vacation, another of those blasted compressors, across the street from where we’re renting, revs up its noisome racket daily from 8am to 4pm. Terrible.

But this din of the angels is of a different sort. No raising a ruckus but a blending of tones and overtones, lifting high their melodious praises to God.

When my wife and I were staying at Niagara Falls, we loved the nighttime fireworks display. I’ve enjoyed any such illuminations since childhood. But here we had the merging of the roar of the falls, the booms and dazzle of the fireworks, along with lightning and thunder from a fierce storm that rolled in that same night that I just didn’t want to stop.

In heaven, joyous singing will go on forever. It will be impossible not to raise our voices, to thank the Lord for all His wonder and goodness. Couldn’t stop if we wanted to, which we don’t and won’t. We’d literally explode trying to keep all our praise inside us.

No way. Let it out. Maybe sing a little louder in church this Sunday? With a carol or two? Give a good shout?

Like those angels heard on high by shepherds here below.

Lord Jesus, I love you and am happy to tell you that each and every day. Amen.