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If Jesus Had Not Come

Words: Albert Charles Norton (b. Nov. 20, 1886; d. ____, 1968)
Music: Donald Paul Hustad (b. Oct. 2, 1918; d. June 22, 2013)

Note: Thanks to a correspondent, I’ve gained more knowledge of Mr. Norton. He lived most of his life in Philadelphia, and wrote many hymns, but as far as his granddaughter knows, this is the only one that was published.  In 1953, Mr. Norton published a hymn asking an important question. The message of his song rings with truth.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

What if? That can be an interesting question to ask. Things are what they are, but what if? Sometimes, a bit of imagination and speculation can bring helpful insights.

It’s an issue pursued in the 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life. What if George Bailey had never been born? In the popular fantasy, with the help of a somewhat befuddled angel named Clarence, George gets a chance to find out. We are all informed and inspired as we see the value of a single person, to his family and in his community.

In 1994, James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe tackled an even more far-reaching issue in their book, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? The title is self-explanatory. What difference would it make if the Lord Jesus had not walked the earth two thousand years ago. The book is still available, and I recommend it. The authors explore the effect of Christ’s coming on governments, the arts, education, medicine, and more, but I’m going to take a slightly different approach here. Here are a few things to ponder.

About the Celebration

If Christ had not come, what would it mean for the festivities of Christmas? Simply put, there would be none. No angelic good news for the shepherds (Lk. 28-14), no visit of the wise men (Matt. 2:1-11). No glittering holiday lights, no “Merry Christmas!” echoing from one to another. Not even any secular revelries–not for that. No Christmas sales, and no general spirit of good will that so often accompanies the season.

About the Scriptures

How would the supposition that Christ did not come change the Word of God? Instead of the Holy Bible, we’d end up with a Bible full of holes! Much of the Old Testament would be missing, and there would be no New Testament at all. There’d be no wondrous message of God’s love fulfilled at Calvary (Jn. 3:16), only the continuing thunders of judgment from Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:10-12). God would remain unapproachable, since all are condemned sinners in His sight (Jn. 3:18).

About our Service

What about our Christian service, if Jesus had not come? There would be no pastors, no missionaries, no Sunday School teachers, no Sunday services–no churches at all. No Salvation Army, with their Christmas kettles and their wonderful ministry to the needy. No Christian radio and television programs, no Christian books or material available on the Internet.

About our Songs

There’d be no Christian music, and no uplifting Christmas carols. No Joy to the World, no Angels from the Realms of Glory. And Handel’s incomparable Messiah would never have been written. In fact, fully nine-tenths (or more) of our hymns would be gone from our hymn books, as well, if Jesus had not come.

About our Salvation

There would be no eternal salvation available, if Jesus had not come. With no Saviour suffering for our sins, and no empty tomb, there would be none. That is the essence of the “gospel” (I Cor. 15:1-4). With no victory over sin and death, sinners would all be eternally lost. There would be no blessed hope, no resurrection to eternal blessing, and no heavenly home prepared for us.

But enough of this gloomy picture! The Lord Jesus Christ did indeed come, and what a difference He has made! Because of it we have enjoyed the celebrations of the Christmas season from twenty centuries. The Scriptures are complete, we praise Him with our songs, and a multitude of Christians commit their lives to life-changing service for the Lord. Beyond all else, there is eternal salvation through faith in Christ.

Here is a little of Mr. Norton’s hymn.

1. If Jesus had not come, how dark had been the night!
The wise men, sadly dumb, had seen no starry light;
The shepherds on the hill had heard no angel song;
The bells in silence chill, no joyous peal had rung.

But Jesus came! He came to earth,
And men beheld His manger birth.
The shepherds heard the angels sing,
The wise proclaimed Him Lord and King!
He died, He rose; and by His blood,
We too become the sons of God;
We preach the gospel in His name,
For Jesus came! Yes, Jesus came!

Questions:

  1. What things come to your mind that would be different “if Jesus had not come”?
  2. What are some reasons He did come?

Links:

Carol, Sweetly Carol

Words: Frances Jane (“Fanny”) Crosby (b. March 24, 1820; d. Feb. 12, 1915)
Music: Odenwald, by Theodore Edson Perkins (b. July 21, 1831; d. _____, 1912)

Note: Among the more than eight thousand hymns she gave us, Fanny Crosby published this simple Christmas song in 1870. In some books you may see it credited to Frances Van Alstyne. That was her married name. In 1858, she married Alexander Van Alstyne–who was blind, as Fanny was.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Most of us are familiar with a number of Christmas carols. As the season approaches, they’re heard over the airwaves, or sung by church congregations or carolers–even by those who don’t personally attach a religious significance to them. It’s part of a longstanding tradition. From the songs Angels We Have Heard on High, and Away in a Manger, to We Three Kings, and While Shepherds Watched, a couple of dozen of them are especially popular.

A “carol” is a song of joy and celebration, especially centred on the birth of Christ–at least, that’s according to the modern use of the word. But, many centuries ago a carol was something different. The Italian word, carola, referred to dancing in a circle, often to the accompaniment of singing (carolare). That accounts for the lively rhythm of some of the very early carols.

Participation in such musical “ring dances” goes all the way back to ancient Greece. But carolling closer to a more modern concept developed in Europe several centuries ago. Back then, carols were not just about Jesus’ birth. They celebrated the coming of spring, the gathering of the harvest, or other special events.

But gradually the carols focused more on the Saviour’s coming. And, as they were brought into the churches as a part of Christian worship, the music, though still joyful, reflected more of a sense of reverence. The lyrics also became more soundly biblical, and not as fanciful.

For instance, less desirable to many were carols such as I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, from the seventeenth century, It describes Mary, Joseph, and the Baby arriving at Bethlehem in sailboats! But Bethlehem, of course, is an inland town with no port, and Jesus wasn’t brought there, He was born there.

Many of the ones we use today could also be described as Christmas hymns. And hymn historians generally consider Charles Wesley’s Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (published in 1739), and James Montgomery’s Angels from the Realms of Glory (from 1825), as the two finest carols in the English language.

The Puritans frowned on celebrations of all kinds as being worldly, and in the mid-seventeenth century Oliver Cromwell’s government tried to ban the singing of carols. It was only partially successful however, and with the coming of Queen Victoria’s long reign there was a renaissance of carolling. The Queen developed a fondness for Christmas carols, and she did a great deal to encourage people to gather for Christmas celebrations, and sing them.

Christmas is a time we set aside to remember the day when “the Word [Christ] became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14). Whether we do so in a spoken testimony or in a song, it’s a momentous and history-altering event, worthy of our praise and worship. Mary rejoiced at the prospect of it. “Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour’” (Lk. 1:46-47). And Zacharias did also, saying, “The Dayspring [Dawning] from on high has visited us” (Lk. 1:68-69, 78).

Later, the angels celebrated His birth (Lk. 2:13-14), and the shepherds (Lk. 2:20), Simeon praised God for it (Lk. 2:28-30, as did Anna (Lk. 2:38). The wise men, also, some weeks or months afterwards, worshiped the Child, and gave Him gifts (Matt. 2:1, 9-11). Should we not celebrate the occasion too?

Fanny Crosby thought so. Here’s some of her song.

(1) Carol, sweetly carol, a Saviour born today;
Bear the joyful tidings, oh, bear them far away:
Carol, sweetly carol, till earth’s remotest bound
Shall hear the mighty chorus, and echo back the sound.

Carol, sweetly carol,
Carol, sweetly today;
Bear the joyful tidings,
Oh, bear them far away.

(2) Carol, sweetly carol, as when the angel throng
O’er the vales of Judah awoke the heavenly song:
Carol, sweetly carol, goodwill, and peace, and love,
Glory in the highest to God who reigns above.

Questions:

  1. What Christmas traditions do you look forward to that are special to your family or friends?
  2. How does your church put a special emphasis on “the reason for the season”?

Links:

I’ve Found the Way

Words: Daniel Paul Rader (b. _____, 1878; d. July 19, 1938)
Music: Daniel Paul Rader

Note: Paul Rader served as pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, and followed founder Albert Simpson as president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. He founded the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle in 1922 and was senior pastor there for eleven years. He wrote many gospel song lyrics and a few tunes, and was instrumental in the founding of the Tabernacle Publishing Company. He was also a pioneer of Christian radio broadcasting.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

For about forty years it was a New Year’s tradition, listening to the Guy Lombardo Orchestra play Auld Lang Syne. The custom cemented the connection between the old song and the dawning of the new year, and it helped make the orchestra famous. Before the group took on Guy Lombardo’s name, they were known as the Royal Canadians, and they promoted themselves as playing “the sweetest music this side of heaven.”

Gaetano (“Guy”) Lombardo (1902-1977) was a second generation Italian-Canadian, whose orchestra became known around the world. With a heavy emphasis on crooning saxophones, they had a unique sound. Some critics panned it as corny, but millions loved it. Even jazz great Louis Armstrong enjoyed their music. By any mark, they were a big success. It’s estimated that the orchestra sold as many as three hundred million recordings.

In 1928, American preacher Paul Rader held evangelistic meetings in Toronto. Guy Lombardo’s orchestra was playing at the hotel where the Rader team was staying. Each night when they returned from a meeting they’d walk past an advertising poster with a picture of the group’s leader, Lombardo, and the slogan, “The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven.”

Paul Rader was curious about what that might sound like, but he didn’t get a chance to hear the orchestra until one day that was so busy he didn’t have time for supper. Arriving back at the hotel late that evening, he asked the team’s music director, gospel song writer Merrill Dunlop, if he’d like to join him for a meal in the hotel’s main dining room, the only place open at that hour.

Since that was where the Lombardo orchestra was playing, the two men got their chance to hear what “heavenly” music sounded like. Dunlop said afterward that he thoroughly enjoyed it. Paul Rader replied, “That’s a good orchestra, and I’m sure it will go places. [However] they may say they are playing the sweetest music this side of heaven, but I disagree. There is nothing sweeter this side of heaven than a song that tells people about Jesus and His love.”

The person of God, and what He has done for us, has inspired the songs of believers for many centuries. Even a millennium before the Christian era, David wrote, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him” (Ps. 28:7). On this side of the cross, we have many more reasons to sing. The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the heart of the Christian gospel, the good news of salvation (I Cor. 15:1, 3-4).

The shed blood Christ of has opened the way to God. In Old Testament times, the barrier between sinful man and God was symbolized by the curtain or veil in the temple that closed off the Holy of Holies where the Lord revealed His presence. Today, “having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…through the veil…let us draw [to God] near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:19-22; cf. Matt. 27:50-51).

During the night after he listened to the Lombardo Orchestra, Paul Rader wrote the words and music for a song now little-remembered, a gospel song to express his thoughts. In the morning, he met with Merrill Dunlop at the piano in the main dining room where the orchestra had played the night before. There the musician added the harmony and the two created the song I’ve Found the Way, sweeter music, in its own simple way, than the “heavenly” music of the orchestra.

1) Often my heart longed to pray;
Sinner, so what could I say?
Then I was told of the blood-cleansing way
Opened by Jesus, my Lord.

I’ve found the way through the blood past the veil
To the Holy of Holies with God.
There in the presence of Jesus I stand,
Glorified Son at the Father’s right hand;
There I can plead, I can claim, I can have
All that He purchased for me.
There, by His pow’r over sin I prevail,
I can walk in the path that He trod.

Questions:

  1. What is it about the Lord and His blessings that you particularly like to sing about?
  2. What, in your view, is the greatest hymn in the English language?

Links:

By Christ Redeemed

Words: George Rawson (b. June 5, 1807; d. March 25, 1889)
Music: Shorham, by John Bacchus Dykes (b. March 10, 1823; d. Jan. 22, 1826)

Note: George Rawson (1807-1889) was a lawyer in England. A shy and retiring man, he was a dedicated Christian, and wrote a number of hymns. Other tunes that might be used with this particular hymn: Almsgiving, by John Dykes; Hanford, by Arthur Sullivan; or In Memoriam, by Frederick Maker.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

T he laws against it are clear, and the punishment severe, but kidnapping still occurs. Individuals are abducted and held against their will, sometimes in hopes of monetary gain, other times for political reasons. Maybe both.

In recent years, governments have refused to pay a ransom for the release of those taken by terrorists. When the captives are threatened with cruel death, this stance may seem inhumane and cruel, but the reasoning is that payment will simply motivate more of the same, and will not guarantee the release of the hostages in any event.

Even so, action may be taken. Sometimes there are secret negotiations and an agreement is reached to release captives mutually, on both sides. Occasionally, there is a military operation to rescue those who have been kidnapped. And, yes, sometimes the demanded price of release is paid, though it’s not often publicized.

To be abducted, even when a release is gained later, is a traumatic and hurtful experience, especially when torture or threats of death are involved. The nightmare can leave not only physical injury, but emotional scars that affect the individuals for many years afterward. They require ongoing counseling and support over time, in order to be restored to a normal and productive life.

All of this has its more serious parallel in the spiritual realm. More serious because it’s so extensive in scope, reaching as it does to everyone around the world. And more serious because the power of the abductor is beyond human ability to withstand. He is called Satan, a word which means adversary. The Scriptures don’t treat this evil angel as a cartoon character to be laughed at, but as a powerful and dangerous spirit being who threatens all mankind.

The Bible says, in his malice, he “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8). The unsaved are held in spiritual darkness and are under the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). What hope do we have?

Redeemed by the Saviour

We can be redeemed, through faith in Christ. The word “redeem” means to deliver by paying a price. The Lord paid that price upon the cross. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). But God goes further than that.

Restored by the Spirit

Ones delivered from Satan’s bondage need to be mended spiritually. By His indwelling Holy Spirit God begins a restoration process in the one who trusts in the Saviour. The Greek word for it (katartizo) means to restore, repair, complete and equip. In the Bible, it’s also used of fishermen mending their nets in order to restore them to usefulness (Matt. 4:21). The writer of Hebrews prays concerning believers:

[May God] make you complete [katartizo, restore, and equip you] in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ.

Heb. 13:20-21

Remembered by the Saints

All of this is rooted in, and founded upon, what the Lord Jesus did on the cross of Calvary (Col. 1:13-14). And God has given the church a service of remembrance to keep that before us. Called by several names, including the Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, it recalls what He did for us. “Do this in remembrance of Me,” Jesus said (I Cor. 11:23-26).

One of Mr. Rawson’s hymns, published in 1857, tenderly reflects the theme of this article, dealing with redemption and restoration, and praising the Lord for them in the service of remembrance.

(1) By Christ redeemed, in Christ restored,
We keep the memory adored,
And show the death of our dear Lord,
Until He come.

(2) His body broken in our stead
Is here in this memorial bread,
And so our feeble love is fed
Until He come.

(3) The streams of His dread agony,
His life blood shed for us, we see;
The wine shall tell the mystery
Until He come.

CH-5) Until the trump of God be heard,
Until the ancient graves be stirred,
And, with the great commanding word,
The Lord shall come.

Questions:

  1. What does this service of remembrance mean to you?
  2. What are you dealing with in your own life, in the Spirit’s restoration process?

Links:

At the End of the Road

Words: Alfred Henry Ackley (b. Jan. 21, 1887; d. July 3, 1960)
Music: Alfred Henry Ackley

Note: Alfred Ackley was a pastor, as his father before him had been. He also worked for a number of years with evangelist Billy Sunday, and over his lifetime wrote some 1,500 songs. His older brother, Bentley DeForest Ackley (1872-1958) served as a pianist in Billy Sunday’s campaigns. He also wrote the tunes for some 3,000 gospel songs.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

During the Second World War, Britain was in a titanic struggle against Nazi Germany. Time after time, Winston Churchill rallied the nation with stirring speeches.

One day in early February of 1941, a letter of encouragement came to the British Prime Minister from American president Franklin Roosevelt. Churchill went on the radio, and quoted from the letter. Then he said, ending his address to the nation, “Here is the answer which I will give to President Roosevelt…Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.”

Finishing. Whether battling a cruel and relentless foe, building a house, or running a race, it’s the same. Not every contest is a matter of life or death, but when work is begun, when we tackle a challenge of some kind, we determine to reach our goal. And we hope to finish well.

Go back a few years before that day in 1941, to the time of the First World War. Scottish singer and comedian Harry Lauder was inspiring Britain with laughter and song, and he raised a great deal of money for the war effort. Then, the pain of the conflict touched his own home. His son was killed in action. What would he do about his own grief, and to comfort others? Lauder sat down and wrote a song. It says:

Keep right on to the end of the road,
Keep right on to the end;
Though the way be long, let your heart be strong,
Keep right on ‘round the bend.

In other words, let’s not be deterred by the personal cost and sacrifice. Let’s finish well. And the same can be said of our lives, as a whole.

The Lord Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (Jn. 4:34). Then, as He hung on the cross, taking there the punishment for our sins, He was able to cry at the point of death, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30).

When faced with dangerous opposition to his ministry, the Apostle Paul said, “None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). Later, as he neared death, in a Roman prison, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).

In 1930, Alfred Henry Ackley was wrestling with a time of discouragement. In his years of Christian ministry he had been a successful pastor, and a skilled musician with some fifteen hundred songs to his credit. Perhaps he was feeling underappreciated for all he’d accomplished, or maybe it had been a time of exhausting stress. He doesn’t say. But he determined to take some time off.

He returned to the scenes of his boyhood, around the country village of Springhill, in Pennsylvania. Things hadn’t changed much in four decades. The beautiful farms, and even the little white church where his father had been the pastor seemed much the same. Mr. Ackley decided to go fishing in the nearby creek, where he and his dad had spent many hours casting for brook trout.

He didn’t catch many fish that day, but he did a lot of thinking. And he recalled something his father had told him about serving the Lord. The elder Ackley said:

“Remember, you won’t always see your reward here. But don’t forget, God keeps the accounts, and at the end of the road He won’t forget you.”

The reminder encouraged him greatly with the need to take the long range view of things, and to finish well. It also led Alfred Ackley to create a song called At the End of the Road. It’s a help to realize that death may be the end of this earthly life, but life goes on into an eternal day. We need to live with an eternal perspective in view.

1. There’ll be light in the sky, from the palace on high,
When I come to the end of the road;
Sweet relief from all care will be waiting me there,
When I come to the end of the road.

When the long day is ended, the journey is o’er,
I shall enter that blessed abode;
For the Saviour I love will be waiting for me
When I come to the end of the road.

Questions:

  1. Why is it encouraging to know that the Lord keeps accurate records of our service for Him?
  2. What are some kinds of service for the Lord that are more public? What are some that others (or only a few) may even know about?

Links:

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven There

Words: Charles J. Butler (data unknown)
Music: James Milton Black (b. Aug. 19, 1856; d. Dec. 21, 1938)

Note: Charles Butler is a hymn writer of the late nineteenth century of whom we know little. The Cyber Hymnal estimates that he was born around 1860. (Hymnary.org gives his middle initial as F, though earliest publications have it as J.) James Black, the composer of the tune, also gave us the words and music for the gospel song When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The words have become more than a movie trivia quotation. They’ve entered the consciousness of many in a special way. The question is asked in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. Based on a novel by Canadian author W. P. Kinsella, the film tells of an Iowa farmer who hears an eerie voice apparently telling him to build a baseball diamond in his corn field.

When he does so, the ghosts of actual ball players long dead come there to play the game they loved in life. Former Chicago White Sox outfielder “Shoeless Joe” Jackson (1888-1951) asks the question, “Is this heaven?” And the farmer responds, “No, it’s Iowa.”

It’s a charming fantasy, but it touches a deeper chord in the souls of many who watch it. The film is about family, and the things that tie us to one another over the years. The real farmhouse and the ball diamond that became the movie set reportedly still receive a steady stream of visitors nearly three decades later! But Iowa isn’t heaven–is it? Perhaps the answer is not as simple as it may appear.

For the secular humanist heaven has always been an utter fantasy. They will say, “This life is all you get. When you’re dead, it’s over. So, if you live in Des Moines, Iowa, or Toronto, or Calcutta, maybe that’s your heaven.” At best, for them, heaven is a state of relative happiness, here and now. But Bible-believing Christians have a far different response.

The word is used nearly seven hundred times in the Scriptures, where it actually identifies three different spheres.

  • The first is atmospheric heaven surrounding the earth, where weather forms, and birds fly (Ps. 68:8; 104:12).
  • The second is stellar space, where the planets and stars are found (Gen. 1:14-19; Ps. 8:3).
  • “The third heaven,” also called Paradise (II Cor. 12:2-4), is the place where the throne of God is (Rev. 4:1-2), where He is continually worshiped by the holy angels, and by the people of God who have departed this life (Rev. 5:11-12; 7:9-12), and where we, as believers here and now, direct our prayers (Matt. 6:9).

The third heaven is also where Jesus, risen and glorified, dwells. In Revelation, He is spoken of twenty-seven times as “the Lamb,” recalling that He died to take upon Himself the punishment for our sins (cf. Jn. 1:29). The Bible says He is seated at the right hand of God the Father (Heb. 1:3; 12:2), there serving as our great High Priest and heavenly Intercessor (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25). Christ Himself said He was also going there to prepare a dwelling place for us (Jn. 14:2-3).

But because of His deity, the Lord Jesus is able, not only to be in heaven, but to reveal His spiritual presence to each one of us here. He said, “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (Jn. 14:21). And He promises His followers, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The Apostle Paul experienced the reality of this.

The Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

Acts 18:9-10

The Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

II Tim. 4:17

There is, then, a true sense in which Christians today can live in the very presence of Christ, and walk daily with Him. In that, Mediaeval mystic Catherine of Siena was right when she said, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” For one living in fellowship with the Lord, Iowa could indeed provide a foretaste of heaven.

One of Charles Butler’s songs, published in 1898, gives lovely expression to this truth. It says:

(1) Since Christ my soul from sin set free,
This world has been a heav’n to me;
And ’mid earth’s sorrows and its woe,
’Tis heav’n my Jesus here to know.

O hallelujah, yes, ’tis heav’n,
’Tis heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n,
On land or sea, what matters where?
Where Jesus is, ’tis heaven there.

(2) Once heaven seemed a far off place,
Till Jesus showed His smiling face;
Now it’s begun within my soul,
’Twill last while endless ages roll.

Questions:

  1. Is there a sense in which this life for the Christian can be like heaven? (If so, how?)
  2. What is different and distinct about the actual heaven described in God’s Word?

Links:

We’ll Understand It Better By and By

Words: Charles Albert Tindley (b. July 7, 1851; d. July 26, 1933)
Music: Charles Albert Tindley

Note: One who experienced firsthand the struggles of his people was African American Charles Tindley, whose own father had been a slave. For a time, Tindley worked as the janitor of a small church in Philadelphia. Then, in 1902, he became the pastor of the church–an integrated congregation, rare, in its time. By God’s grace, Pastor Tindley built the membership to 12,500 before his death.

Tindley was also a gospel songwriter of some note. His compositions not only taught Bible truths, they described the struggles faced by so many in his day, giving new hope for something better “by and by.” His song I’ll Overcome Some Day was adapted to become We Shall Overcome, a stirring anthem of the Civil Rights movement.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

They called it the Fog Bowl, and fans of the Canadian Football League still talk about it. The championship game of 1962 pitted teams from Winnipeg and Hamilton, in a game played in Toronto. But, as television viewers watched, a thick fog began to roll in off nearby Lake Ontario. It became more and more difficult to see anything.

For a while, players had a little visibility near ground level. One pass receiver reported he saw tacklers coming at him, “but only from the waist down!” Finally, when the referee was no longer able to see the players or the down markers, the CFL Commissioner, called the game, with just under ten minutes left to play.

The teams, and about half the fans, came back the next day for the finish–the only time that’s ever happened. Winnipeg won a close match, 28 to 27–though there are still Hamilton fans who claim their team’s gifted place kicker, Don Sutherin, kicked a winning field goal the referee didn’t see.

Fog. There are other kinds than what is caused by an excess of moisture in the air. “The fog of war” is a term from the nineteenth century describing the many unknowns involved in combat. A Prussian military analyst claimed, “Three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.”

Even in times of relative peace, there can be a kind of fog obscuring the lives of others living not too far away. Do you know anything about the personal struggles of a neighbour, or about those being experienced in a nearby town? Sometimes we live our lives in isolation and a sad insensitivity to the sufferings of others. We need to study again the Lord’s parable about the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:30-37), who reached out to help a man in need.

In 2010, Isabel Wilkerson published her award-winning book, The Warmth of Other Suns. (I highly recommend it.) The book presents a fascinating account of America’s Great Migration, which took place roughly from 1915 to 1970. It involved the movement of more than ten million African Americans from the southern United States mainly to cities in the North.

There’s never been anything quite like it in history. It radically changed the face of a nation, but relatively few have heard of it, or are aware of what precipitated it. Wilkerson tells the true and moving story of three individuals who were involved. In the process, she gives us a better understanding of race relations, and why this huge number of people fled the south.

As the author describes it, half a century after the Civil War, and “emancipation,” black people still were terribly oppressed and abused in the South. The threat of lynching continued, even into the 1960s. Living as a black man or women was also difficult up north, as Wilkerson documents, but it was nothing like conditions in the South.

Why do I make reference to Wilkerson’s book? Because we need to be informed about the suffering of others. Christian people need to defend, and compassionately aid, those who suffer such cruel injustice, but we can also instill hope, encouraging them to see a better day ahead. In heaven, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (I Cor. 13:12).

That is the message of this hopeful song of Pastor Tindley’s. We’ll Understand It Better By and By was written in 1905 to give hope to those he knew were struggling. It speaks of a time “when the mists have rolled away,” and we’ll understand in a fuller way what the Lord has been doing.

(1) We are often tossed and driv’n
On the restless sea of time;
Somber skies and howling tempests
Oft succeed a bright sunshine;
In that land of perfect day,
When the mists have rolled away,
We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
For we’ll understand it better by and by.

(2) We are often destitute
Of the things that life demands,
Want of food and want of shelter,
Thirsty hills and barren lands;
We are trusting in the Lord,
And according to God’s Word,
We will understand it better by and by.

Questions:

  1. How have you been a “good Samaritan” to a stranger in need, over the past month?
  2. Has someone been a “good Samaritan” to you in that time? (How did you respond?)

Links:

O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

Words: Louis Fitzgerald Benson (b. July 22, 1855; d. Oct. 10, 1930)
Music: Kingsfold, a traditional English tune arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (b. Oct. 12, 1872; d. Aug. 26, 1958)

Note: Dr. Benson studied and practised law for seven years. He later served as a pastor. But his major contribution to the Christian community lay in his scholarly study of hymns and their history. At the Wordwise link at the bottom of this article you can learn a bit more about him, and see his description of what makes a good hymn.

Ralph (pronounced Rafe) Vaughan Williams was a central figure in British classical music in the early twentieth century, he wrote symphonies, chamber music, operas, choral music and film scores, and was a collector of English folk music. Though either an atheist or agnostic, he wrote or arranged a number of hymn tunes, and also helped edit two hymnals and The Oxford Book of Carols.

There are a number of our hymns and gospel songs that speak of the birth of Christ at the beginning, but which are not actually Christmas carols. They take in the broader scope of Christ’s life, sometimes stretching from eternity to eternity (as Wilbur Chapman’s One Day does). Other examples: Benjamin Hanby’s Who Is He in Yonder Stall?, Fanny Crosby’s Tell Me the Story of Jesus, and That Beautiful Name, by Jean Perry.

Benson framed the present 1899 hymn to relate to four geographical locations significant to the life of Christ: Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, and Calvary.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Bethlehem was a small town in Jesus’ day, overshadowed by Jerusalem nearby. But God chose it for an unparalleled event, the virgin birth of Jesus. That event stamps little Bethlehem with special importance (cf. Mic. 5:2). There the Light of the World was born.

(1) O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.

We know little of the early life of Christ. There is the one incident described by Luke when, at twelve years of age (Lk. 2:41-50), He was taken to Jerusalem, where Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple, interacting with the elders, who were “astonished at His understanding and answers” (vs. 47). Other than that, Luke gives us two general statements.

“The Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Lk. 2:40). “He was subject [submissive, obedient] to them [Mary and Joseph]…and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men” (Lk. 2:51, 52).

(2) O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless Boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear name on all the winds that blow.

In the time of Christ, Israel was divided into three provinces: Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. The author chooses Galilee (cf. Mk. 1:28) to show something of His years of ministry, from His introduction by John the Baptist, to the night of His arrest in Gethsemane. As with each stanza Benson describes how, what began so long ago, now touches lives all over the world.

(3) O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s word, falls peace upon the soul.

What happened at Calvary has elements of both “glory and dismay.” For the disciples, it seemed the end of everything. The One they thought would begin His righteous reign immediately was dead. They were understandably filled with fear that they would suffer the same fate, as the Lord’s followers. But the glory of Calvary is that there Christ paid our debt of sin. Then He triumphed over the grave on Easter morning, and His resurrection guarantees our own, when we put our faith in Him.

Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

I Cor. 15:20-21

(4) O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay,
Of Him who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away.
For He who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save.

Questions:

  1. If you could add one more stanza to Dr. Benson’s hymn, what would it be about?
  2. Why do you think the Bible tells us so little about Jesus until He was around thirty years of age?

Links:

Jesus, Wonderful Lord

Words: Paul White (no information available)
Music: Paul White

Note: It will be clear from what’s missing above that little is known about Paul White. There was a Christian missionary doctor with that name, but there’s no evidence he wrote any hymns. At a guess, I’d place the author’s dates at about 1900 to 1970. The song was published in 1933, and the copyright was renewed by Mr. White in 1961. I have an old recording, made over half a century ago, of a couple of friends singing the song beautifully, as a duet. If you know more about the author, please share it.

1. Born among cattle, in poverty sore,
Living in meekness by Galilee’s shore,
Dying in shame as the wicked ones swore:
Jesus, wonderful Lord!

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!
He is my Friend, true to the end;
He gave Himself to redeem me–
Jesus, wonderful Lord!

You likely know the old joke: What’s a paradox? Answer: Two doctors. The actual dictionary definition is more to our point here. A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself but, in fact, it may not.

People can be paradoxical too. That is, there can be things about them that are contradictory. They can seem to be one thing, but in reality are something quite different. For example, Hetty Green (1834-1916) lived in the States in grinding poverty. To save money, she was known never to use heat or hot water in her barren apartment. And when her son broke his leg, Mrs. Green scoured the city where she lived, looking for a free clinic to treat him. Because of the delay, the leg never did heal properly, and it later had to be amputated.

But Hetty Green was far from poor. In fact, she may have been the world’s richest woman at the time, and her obsessive stinginess led the editors of the Guinness Book of World Records to label her the greatest miser who ever lived. In today’s money, she was worth between two and four billion dollars when she died. Her chosen lifestyle and her wealth were certainly paradoxical.

There’s a sense in which the Lord Jesus Christ provides the supreme paradox of all. What He is, and has been from all eternity, is in stark contrast to how He appeared on earth. God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, worshiped by angels and enjoying the glories of heaven, came to this earth in poverty. As the virgin-born Son of Mary, His first cradle was a manger (Lk. 2:7).

The Bible says, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (II Cor. 8:9). In fact, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Grace is God’s unearned, unmerited favour to us, and it was by His grace that God the Father sent Christ to die for our sins, so we might be cleansed and forgiven (Eph. 1:7).

He blessed us in other paradoxical ways by His “poverty,” as well. Jesus was severely tempted by the devil (Lk. 4:1-13), yet He is able to offer us deliverance from temptation (Matt. 6:13; I Cor. 10:13). He was weary and thirsty (Jn. 4:6-7), yet He offers us rest (Matt. 11:29-30), and offers us the spiritual water of life (Jn. 4:10, 14-14). He suffered human weakness, and death (Matt. 27:50), but through His death He helps the weak and saves the lost (Rom. 1:16).

It is the repeated testimony of the Bible that Christ never sinned (I Pet. 2:22-23; Heb. 4:15), yet He died in shame as a criminal (Isa. 53:12; Matt. 27:38). He died in a strange and supernatural darkness, Matthew tells us (Matt. 27:45), but He offers light to the world. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12; cf. Eph. 5:8).

All of these things are part of a strange and wonderful paradox. The present hymn takes note of some of the contrasts in the life of Christ, making Mr. White’s beautiful song worthy of our attention. The third stanza reminds us that He was a Friend to the friendless (Lk. 15:1-2), though He Himself was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and forsaken by His followers in His hour of greatest suffering. I trust that He is your Friend too.

Questions:

  1. What are some other paradoxes in the Person and earthly life of the Lord Jesus?
  2. Which would you say is the greatest paradox of all about Him?

Links:

The Wise May Bring Their Learning

Words: (author unknown)
Music: Christmas Morn (or Hopkins), by Edward John Hopkins (b. June 30, 1818; d. Feb. 4, 1901)

Note: We do not know the author of this beautiful 1871 hymn. (The Cyber Hymnal currently has 1881 as a publishing date, but this seems to be a mistake.) The name of the hymn tune suggests it had a connection with Christmas and the gifts of the wise men. However, the text makes no mention of this, and the song is suitable for use any time.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The precious treasure we have in our children has not always been fully recognized. Some take the old view that they are expected to behave, and otherwise not intrude on the adult world. Versions of the saying, “Children should be seen and not heard” can be traced back to before the time of Christ.

Not all feel that way, of course. Years ago, the United Nations recommended to its member states that they establish a Universal Children’s Day, promoting the care of the young. Canada has done so, designating November 20th for that purpose since 1993.

When parents tried to bring their children to the Lord Jesus, His disciples presumed to shoo them away (Mk. 10:13). But “He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me’” (vs. 14). Commending the simple and sincere trust of childhood as an example to all (vs. 15), “He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them” (vs. 16).

That anyone would prey on vulnerable children is despicable. Yet it happens all the time. Child abuse, in various cruel and degrading forms, is in the news almost daily. Not the least of these wrongs is the plague of abortion. That a child begins life at conception can be demonstrated scientifically. Yet we hear much of a woman’s right to “plan parenthood,” and very little of the child’s right to live. The Lord will hold us accountable for turning a blind eye to this ongoing tragedy (cf. Prov. 31:8; Lk. 17:2).

In contrast, the Scriptures treat our children as a gift from God. When Esau asked his brother Jacob to identify the young who were with him, the latter responded, “[They are] the children whom God has graciously given your servant” (Gen. 33:5). The psalmist confirms this view: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord” (Ps. 127:3).

It’s the duty of parents to value God’s gift, not treat it as an unwanted nuisance. We are to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Prov. 22:6), “telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (Ps. 78:4), “that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice” (Gen. 18:19). To do anything less than this is to fail in our duty to them, and to God.

Many hymns have been written for children. Some good, some not so good. A sacred song for children ought not to talk down to them, as inferiors. Nor should it burden them with complex doctrinal concepts for which they are not ready. But with those cautions, we have some good ones in our hymnals.

Three hundred years ago, Isaac Watts (1674-1748) published a book including a children’s hymn about creation that we continue to use: I Sing the Mighty Power of God. In 1877, Mary Dodge (1831-1905) published another fine children’s hymn which begins, “Can a little child like me thank the Father fittingly?” Her answer is a resounding yes!

A similar theme is explored in the present song, appearing around the same time as Dodge’s, though for this one we do not know the author. Again it raises the question of what a child can offer to our God and King. The song asks what children can do for the Lord.

(1) The wise may bring their learning, the rich may bring their wealth,
And some may bring their greatness, and some bring strength and health;
We, too, would bring our treasures to offer to the King;
We have no wealth or learning; what shall we children bring?

Then, the author gives the answer. There are many things listed that could be discussed profitably with children.

(2) We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; we’ll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving to walk in holy ways;
And these shall be the treasures we offer to the King,
And these are gifts that even the poorest child may bring.

(3) We’ll bring the little duties we have to do each day;
We’ll try our best to please Him, at home, at school, at play;
And better are these treasures to offer to our King;
Than richest gifts without them–yet these a child may bring.

Questions:

  1. Can you think of some ways and occasions this hymn could be used?
  2. What are you doing to encourage faith in God, in the children you know, and to teach them God’s Word?

Links:

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