Those perfect full days when you felt that the whole world was yours and you had been here forever. Mountains did that to you, these mountains.”
–Hal Borland (When the Legends Die)
“Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.”
–Deuteronomy 3:25 (NLT)
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I hesitated about putting any hymns out this summer, but then I know that several people enjoy reading them, and a few actually start to hum the tune if they know it. This hymn is powerful and is one of my favorites. Charles Wesley was so inspirational and doctrinal in his writings. What I didn’t know was that there are 19 verses to this hymn. Look at just a few with me.
“O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!”
That is one of the place where Satan made his mistake. In trying to conquer the Son of God, even with his vast knowledge, he had no idea of the power of His grace. Let me tell you for sure that there will be more than a thousand tongues that sing, will sing, and continue to sing the praises of our Redeemer. How many will there be in heaven singing around the throne?
“Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.”
We don’t have an inkling behind the power of Jesus’ name. Far too many use it improperly and profane it. Others, believers, think that it is a magical incantation to cite when trouble arises. However, it is the Name above all names. It is the name, that if you have a personal relationship with Him, the fears of life are put to rest.
“He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.”
Why praise His name so loudly, so often? The verse above tells much of the reason. Sin is gone–removed; prisoners, once bound by the chains of sin are now free. No matter how evil, how despicable a person thinks they are, the blood of Christ is able to cleanse and restore. No matter how often He has done it for others, that blood was also there for me.
“In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.”
The load of sin, the shame and guilt that was once borne has now been removed. Sins are forgiven as we journey toward heaven. But there is one line of truth in this verse that far too many Christians have not taken to heart. We need to live in the Kingdom now by “anticipating our heaven below.” We grumble, murmur, and often complain about life and forget that where Christ is, there is a part of heaven.
“I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.”
With 19 verses it was hard to choose which ones to write down. I would encourage you to look up the hymn and meditate on each of the verses. But this last one I chose has a truth that we often neglect. We moan about our life and have regrets about our past. We have been pardoned so all that junk has been erased. At the same time look into your heart and see what the Holy Spirit has written. His promises, His Word, His laws are written down, etched deep, in our hearts.
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Be sure to keep us in your prayers. Right now, there is one more hurdle for the house. The inspector said the roof wasn’t put on right, so I have to have my roofer come out and take pictures to show that it was. That is supposed to happen on Saturday.
Things just aren’t like they used to be. There is all kinds of paperwork, legal jargon, and who controls the power.