I Know a Fount

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Words: Oliver Cooke (b. _____, 1873; d. _____, 1945), stanza one; stanzas two to four are from Cora Brockhuizen (no data available)
Music: Oliver Cooke

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (none)
The Cyber Hymnal (none)
Hymnary.org

Note: As you can see, almost nothing is known of the creators of this lovely little song. (If you have more information, please pass it along.) The full song, by Cooke and Brockhuizen, is found in Living Hymns. Most times, only the first stanza is printed, to be used as a chorus.

There’s a great scene in the classic 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street. When Macy’s Department Store doesn’t have a particular toy a child wants for Christmas, the store Santa Claus tells the mother to go to a rival store, assuring her that they have what he wants.

At first, Macy’s management is shocked at such disloyalty, and ready to get rid of their Santa. But when people begin to express their admiration for Macy’s kindness, what Mr. Claus did becomes store policy. They assume the mantle of “the helpful store, the friendly store.”

Do you know where to go to get what you need? Reliable car repairs? Or computer repairs? Or where they serve the best steak? Or where you can to purchase your favourite candy cane ice cream? Often this sort of information isn’t advertised on television or in a newspaper. Even if it is, we’ve learned to treat such promotions with a healthy bit of skepticism. Where we do turn often is to friends who’ve made their own discovery and readily share their personal experience.

Travel information is passed along in a similar way. The glossy ads are all well and good, but it’s much more reassuring to talk with a friend or family member who’s actually been there. They may tell us, “Avoid such-and-such a place; it’s just a tourist trap. But it’s well worth your time to go to this other place. The whole family will find something to enjoy there.” Knowing where to go, whether it’s for practical help, or for entertainment and recreation, may mean we’re more likely to get the most for our efforts, and for time spent.

And there’s certainly a spiritual parallel, and Christians have been passing on the news of their experience with it for centuries. In ancient times, the great city of Rome became the hub, with well built roadways radiating from it like the spokes of a wheel. It was well said, “All roads lead to Rome.” In a similar way, regarding man’s spiritual journey, everything from Genesis to Revelation seems, by some byway or other, to bring us to Calvary.

When Adam and Eve fell to Satan’s temptation in Eden, they received the just punishment for their sins. But God promised that one day a descendant of the woman would crush the serpent’s (Satan’s) head (Gen. 3:15). A prophet proclaimed the coming One (the Lord Jesus Christ) would take sin’s punishment in our place (Isa. 53:6). All of the animal sacrifices of Old Testament times pointed forward to that, prompting Paul to write, “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (I Cor. 5:7).

Not surprisingly, He was introduced to the multitudes at His coming as, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). Jesus said of Himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28) and, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). On the cross, as He paid the price for our sins, the Saviour cried, “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30).

And while the Old Testament points forward to that cruel Roman gibbet, and the Gospels describe the crucifixion itself, all that comes afterward points back to it. “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3), and it’s through faith in Him we are saved eternally (Acts 16:31; I Jn. 5:11-12). No wonder the title repeatedly given to Christ in heaven is “the Lamb” (e.g. Rev. 12:11).

Do you know where to find eternal life? Knowing where to go for that essential is critically important to us, both for time and eternity. The answer is it’s found in Christ alone (Jn. 3:16; 14:6). That is the theme of a gospel song written by Oliver Cooke and Cora Brockhuizen.

1) I know a fount where sins are washed away,
I know a place where night is turned to day;
Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see;
There’s a wonder working pow’r,
In the blood of Calvary.

2) I have a Saviour, He’s a faithful Friend,
One who is with me, will be to the end,
He, now in glory, intercedes for me,
‘Twas His precious cleansing blood
That once flowed on Calvary.

4) I have a hope, my Lord will surely come,
All His redeemed ones shall be gathered home.
With Him in glory evermore to be,
Then we’ll praise Him for the blood
That was shed on Calvary.

Questions:
1) How would you tell someone to become a Christian? (What Bible verses would you use?)

2) What are some of the wonderful blessings of knowing Christ as our personal Saviour?

Links:
Wordwise Hymns (none)
The Cyber Hymnal (none)
Hymnary.org