I am thinking this morning of a friend who had to bid “Farewell” to her father. He was diagnosed recently with pancreatic cancer and declined quickly. My heart grieves for her, and as so many others know, there are really no words that can fully articulate the sorrow of such loss. But for Jesus, we would despair. So I share this poem in honor of my friend, and her father. I pray it offers some measure of comfort and hope in the promises we have Christ.
The Arrival
by Augustus Toplady
Hearken, the Savior’s voice at last
Invites His sufferer home,
And tells thee all thy toil is past,
But thy reward is come.
Till meet for bliss on earth detained,
The conquest Thou hast won;
Through much temptation thou hast gained,
The prize, and reached the crown.
While shouting angels chant their joys,
And tune their notes the higher,
And clap their wings, for, oh, thy voice,
Is added to the choir.
Of his inheritance above,
They hail a saint possessed;
Made meet, by his Redeemer’s love,
To be Jehovah’s guest.
Swift as an arrow through the air,
The towering spirit flies,
Entrusted to a seraph’s care,
And convoyed to the skies.
On the expanded wings of love,
He seeks his high abode,
To meet the happy souls above,
That are brought home to God.
Him they salute with lifted cry,
As soon as entered there,
“But for Thy favored ministry,
Or we had not been here.
From pain to glory summoned forth,
Thrice welcome from below,
Our fellow-sufferer on earth,
Our fellow angel now!”
While humbly he draws near the throne,
The Savior’s crystal seat;
Gives Him the praise, and casts his crown
At His redeeming feet.
Lifted above the reach of pain,
We soon shall change our place;
And join Emmanuel’s shining train,
And see His blissful face.
Rejoicing in that glorious hope,
We bear His cross below;
We quickly shall be taken up,
Sublimer joys to know.
For our arrival into bliss,
Our friends in glory wait;
Cut short Thy work in righteousness
And make their joys complete!
The happy soul whom Jesus gives
In Him to live and die;
Its blessed transition scarce perceives
Into eternity.
A sight of Him that conquered death,
In our last moments given,
Shall elevate our languid faith,
And charm us into heaven.
Christ when expiring Stephen viewed,
He scorned death’s utmost power,
And calmly fell asleep in God,
Amid the stony shower.
Assist us, Lord, to walk and live,
In Zion’s heavenly road,
And then our souls to Thee receive,
When called to meet our God.
A little while, and we shall soar
To yonder promised land,
And meet our brethren gone before,
Enthroned at Thy right hand.
Thy praise shall actuate each tongue,
Thy love our hearts inflame;
And we with them shall sing the song,
Of Moses and the Lamb.
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