The Daily Paine

I have enjoyed doing a little commentary to the old hymns this year.  This may be the last one for a season.  Yes, I do plan on writing devotions in my retirement, but summer is coming and I never write every day during the summer.  There may or may not be a hymn coming out this summer.
I can well remember this hymn by Sanford F. Bennett.  It has long been one of the standards of the church and it tells of that blessed hope that believers have.  There will be that day when we will finally enter heaven and see that home that Jesus has prepared for us.  Now, we see it only by faith, but one day it will be a reality.

          “There’s a land that is fairer than day,
           And by faith we can see it afar;
           For the Father waits over the way,
           To prepare us a dwelling place there.”

There will no longer be any sorrow, nor any suffering.  Today, we sing of the hope that we have, but then we will sing the songs of the blest.  There will be no earthly sighing, no wishing or wanting, for we will be home and will finally be at rest in the home that He has prepared for us.  Yes, even this ol’ fence post will finally be able to hold a tune and it will surely be melodious.

          “We shall sing on that beautiful shore
           The melodious songs of the blest,
           And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
           Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.”

There have been songs upon songs about what it might be like when we enter those gates.  For sure we will be offering the Father praise.  We will bow in thanksgiving for the gift of His Son that showed forth His wondrous love.  After that what will we be doing; what other blessings will await us?  Reminds me of the words of another song, “The half has never yet been told,” but that’s a hymn for another time.

          “To our bountiful Father above
           We will offer our tribute of praise,
           For the glorious gift of His love
           And the blessings that hallow our days.

                    In the sweet by-and-by,
                    We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
                    In the sweet by-and-by,
                    We shall meet on that beautiful shore.”

We often have to go separate ways down here on earth.  Some will go on before us to that heavenly shore, and they will be there waiting for us.  Some of us “retire” and will leave the area for other places.  No matter though, one day we shall meet again on that beautiful, celestial shore.