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My brother visited the grave-site of our relatives yesterday and sent me this comment. “Kinda sad, such a wet, damp and solitary place. No matter what our lives are like, we all end up forgotten after a surprisingly short period of time.”
His forlorn words reminded me of C.T. Studd’s poem which I’ve added below.
“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
C.T Studd
James 4:14
4 Comments
SDG
Don,
Thats a very thoughtful hymn. Thanks.
When I go back to the ‘old dart’, I usually drop in to visit my Dad’s grave, to give thanks to God for his memory, and to remind myself of my own ‘appointment’.
How to spend what remains of this short life, that is the issue we both face. We don’t want to just live, we want to be ‘alive to God’, and they can be poles apart in our experience.
I read a very very good piece today from Reformation 21
I found it challenging and encouraging.
SDG
Don (Author)
Thanks, SDG.
As you know, I have a few years on you.
Of late I’ve become keenly aware of my limitations, indeed my mortality. I suppose the passing of both my parents, some recent surgery to keep this worn-out old body functioning and observation such as my brother’s in this post are all contributing factors.
And the link to the aforementioned post is a timely reminder that it is we followers of Christ who need revival, not merely physical restoration, but spiritual revival.
There is so much work to be done, and so little time in which to do it. “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35)
I was challenged by the C.H Surgeon quote,
SDG
Don,
As my swimming instructor puts it so well, its all in the head! As long as the blood is taking oxygen to the brain, there is something you can do for the Lord, and it is our heart response to Him which is the essential thing.
I immediately thought of Isa 40:31!
We must see ourselves as we are. We need to be measured against the plumb line of God’s word, and not compare ourselves with others (which is a Pharisee trait).
I am convinced that God has so much more to teach us than we can currently bear. We (especially the ‘reformed’ we, are so full of our knowledge, and superiority. We need to recognise that all this knowledge simply mocks us, that we are not what we could be or should be in Gods sight, and we need to beg for his mercy and His help.
SDG
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