I don't have anything against praise choruses, but I am so very glad that there has been a resurgence of hymn writing in the last 10 years. It just seems that hymns are richer in lyric and are less prone to the repetition that so often bogs choruses down or wears out their welcome. They also tend to be less me-related and more Christ-related. This song was written just five years ago by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (whose work will grace this countdown again before we reach the top). It's full title is "See, What a Morning (Resurrection Hymn)" which should give you a fairly good idea what the song is about. When Jesus died on the cross "there was darkness over the whole land" [Mark 15:33] and yet three days later, the morning is "gloriously bright." Why the contrast? Because Jesus is no longer dead, but has been brought back to life, victorious over death. This was "God's salvation plan" which the Scripture tells us was put into place "before the foundation of the world" and "according to the purpose of His will." [Ephesians 1:4-5] In other words, the death of Jesus was not God's 'Plan B' or just a random event in history. No, it was the perfect act of our redemption, planned and provided by God himself. God's salvation plan was fulfilled in "Christ, the Man" the only one who can stand between sinful humanity and sinless God. This is why the Bible says: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." [1 Timothy 2:5] And what exactly did the sacrifice of Jesus accomplish? In short, "death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered." The grave no longer has any power or victory over those who belong to Christ. God's steadfast love has made a way for us to be with Him forever. Now, "all authority has been given" [Matthew 28:18] that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Philippians 2:10-11] And, of course, the reason any of this matters is the theme of this song: "for He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!" As Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians, the resurrection is the key to our faith. Without it, we have no help and no hope. He says it this way: "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive... The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." [1 Corinthians 15:17-22, 56-57] posted June 22, 2008

See, what a morning, gloriously bright, With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light, As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!" See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?" As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; Hears a voice speaking, calling her name; It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again! The voice that spans the years, Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, Will sound till He appears, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! One with the Father, Ancient of Days, Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty. Honor and blessing, glory and praise To the King crowned with pow'r and authority! And we are raised with Him, Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Marvelous. Wonderful. Words we know well, but words that take on a new meaning when applied to Christ. In this sense, they don't simply refer to things that are appealing to our senses or temporary pleasures, but to the eternal, unconditional love of God, revealed in Christ. When faced with this love, it is right to ask "how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean" and yet this is the heart of the Gospel: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [Romans 5:8] Scripture refers to us as "dead in...trespasses and sins" [Ephesians 2:1] and reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23] and "the wages of sin is death." [Romans 6:23] As sinners apart from Christ we are condemned and unclean, with no hope of cleaning ourselves up enough to be with God. God, as we have seen, took the initiative. He knew that we were unable to repair the relationship, so God sent Christ, who "took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own." This fulfills the prophecy spoken in Isaiah 53:5 : "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him what the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." To put it another way, as Paul does in his second letter to Corinth: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Corinthians 5:21] Jesus Christ had no sin of his own, yet he took our sins upon himself and offered his life as a substitutionary payment for the penalty our sin had earned. In the last verse, we are told that those who will finally see Jesus are the "ransomed in glory," those whom have been ransomed "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." [1 Peter 1:18-19] Are you beginning to understand why Charles Gabriel used the words "marvelous" and "wonderful" to describe Christ's love? It is a love beyond measure, beyond comparison, and beyond human ability. It is infinite, matchless, and it meets every need we have. posted July 13, 2008

I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean.      O how marvelous! O how wonderful!      And my song shall ever be:      O how marvelous! O how wonderful!      Is my Savior’s love for me! For me it was in the garden He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.” He had no tears for His own griefs, But sweat drops of blood for mine. In pity angels beheld Him, And came from the world of light To comfort Him in the sorrows He bore for my soul that night. He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calvary, And suffered and died alone. When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, ’Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of His love for me.

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From the onset, this hymn challenges us to "gratefully sing His power and His love." The Bible speaks of God's power, telling us that "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power..." [Psalm 147:5] and His love, reminding us that "God is love" [1 John 4:8] and that "because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." [Ephesians 2:4-5] So, God's power and love are clear and indisputable. But what of our gratefulness? Do we truly sing these words with a thankful heart? Are we still moved by the thought of God's rich mercy toward rebellious sinners like us? Do we still marvel at a love that was willing to endure the cross and all the wrath against our sin? Perhaps this is why we must "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." [1 Thessalonians 5:18] If we need further encouragement to be grateful, we need only look at the titles given to God in this hymn: Shield, Defender, Ancient of Days, Almighty, Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. To think that the God of this universe, so far above human ability or understanding, would choose to make himself known to us! God was under no obligation to reveal himself through His Word, and certainly no one could coerce Christ to leave heaven and enter humanity, yet it pleased God to do so. We can know God. Let that thought make us all thankful! And what do we know of God? One thing is certain: He keeps His promises. This is why Scripture can attest that "the Lord is faithful" [2 Thessalonians 3:3] and "it is impossible for God to lie." [Hebrews 6:18]Every promise of God rings true, so we can confidently sing "In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail." Another thing that we know of God is his hatred of sin. Since sin is anything that either willingly violates God's law or fails to live up to it in any way, we are all guilty of sin. And God, as the infinitely holy Judge, has the right to punish that sin. More than that, it is proper justice for him to do so, so "we know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things" [Romans 2:2] The thought that "His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form" should remind us of the absolute judgment of the Almighty. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." [Hebrews 10:31] What hope do we have then? How can "frail children of dust, and feeble as frail" ever stand before God in judgment and survive? The answer lies in Christ, whom God sent. Christ lived in perfect obedience to God, meaning that he had access to God through an unbroken fellowship that a sinner could never enjoy. Christ then gave this life as a payment for the debt that our sin incurred. God, pleased with this sacrifice, declared His justice against sin satisfied for all who place faith in Christ alone. As a result, those who trust in Christ have their sin debt paid, and also receive the righteousness of Christ, meaning they will now and forever enjoy the same access to the Father that Christ has! "O measureless might! Ineffable love!" Surely, it is these things which need to preoccupy our thoughts and capture our hearts! Think of God, think of the Gospel, and be grateful! posted August 20, 2008

O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and His love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space, His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm. The earth with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old; Established it fast by a changeless decree, And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea. Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. O measureless might! Ineffable love! While angels delight to worship Thee above, The humbler creation, though feeble their lays, With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.

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I tend to dislike songs that are overly repetitive. This one certainly fits that bill, so why did it make the cut? Because if there was ever a statement worth repeating, "nothing but the blood of Jesus" is it! By the end of the hymn, you start to get the idea that Jesus' blood is not only important, but absolutely necessary for everything. The very first question posed in this song is "what can wash away my sin?" and the answer is right in line with Hebrews 9:12. When speaking of Christ's sacrifice, it says "he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." Indeed, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" [Hebrews 9:22] showing why "nothing can for sin atone" but Jesus' blood. And what of "naught of good that I have done?" We know that "all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" [Isaiah 64:6] compared to Christ's spotlessness. Not only that, but we are "by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9] It is nothing in ourselves that saves us; only the blood of Christ, spilled out on our behalf. This is also why Jesus' blood is "all my hope and peace," reminding us that "in [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." [Colossians 1:19-20] In one of the great ironies of all time, God uses the cross, an instrument of torture and death, to become a symbol of peace and reconciliation. And what of the phrase "this is all my righteousness"? Perhaps Paul sums it up best in his second letter to Corinth when he says, "for our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin -- who knew no sin -- so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Corinthians 5:21] In other words, Jesus knew no sin of his own, yet he took on our sin and paid its penalty. Because of this, we can now receive his perfect obedience as credited to us. As Paul says elsewhere "if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." [Galatians 2:21] It is only the blood of Christ that accomplishes this. Even the chorus, which says that Jesus' blood "makes me white as snow" is an allusion to the very righteousness he gives His people. We can stand before God and be seen as clean -- even though we are not clean people -- because Jesus is our representative. We get credit for everything he did as if we had done it ourselves! It's the fulfillment of what God told the people in Isaiah 1:18, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Blood is a messy business. But it is also a very necessary one. It is through the blood of Jesus -- and only through the blood of Jesus -- that sin can be forgiven, righteousness granted, and eternal life in heaven promised to those whom it saves. "In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace..." [Ephesians 1:7] posted August 31, 2008

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.      Oh! precious is the flow      That makes me white as snow;      No other fount I know,      Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Now by this I’ll overcome— Nothing but the blood of Jesus, Now by this I’ll reach my home— Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Glory! Glory! This I sing— Nothing but the blood of Jesus, All my praise for this I bring— Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Martin Luther is best known for his role in the Reformation of the 16th century, a move to reform the practices of the church by bringing them back in line with Scripture. Luther also wrote this hymn, which is a poignant reminder of the power of God, the necessity of Christ, the gifting of the Spirit, and the final victory that already belongs to the Almighty. God is referred to as a “mighty fortress” which immediately conjures up images from the Psalms, where David calls God his “rock and deliverer” [18:2], his “stronghold” [27:1], his “help and shield” [33:20] and so on. God protects his people; He is a bulwark (a defensive wall) that never fails. Even though Satan should come against us with all his might, we are “hidden with Christ in God” [Colossians 3:3] and nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8:39] And Christ is the key to that eternal protection. If we tried to depend on our own ability “our striving would be losing.” The only way to be secure is with “the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.” The chosen one (Messiah) of God is none other than Jesus. He is the “Lord Sabaoth,” or the Lord of hosts (the heavenly army) and he has already won the victory. Who can rightfully say “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” [Matthew 28:16]? Who can rightfully say that he “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” [Colossians 2:15]? Who can say these things? “Christ Jesus, it is He.”  This is why, no matter that “this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us” and despite the fact that Satan is on the prowl, “we tremble not for him.” James tells us that we must “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [4:7] Satan is already defeated. His eternal destiny is reserved in the lake of fire, where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. So how does Satan still attack Christians today? By distraction and the pursuit of folly. He draws our eyes with appeals to earthly pleasure and temporary happiness. This is why Luther reminds us “let goods and kindred go; this mortal life also.” Our love for God must put everything else in its proper place. Our things, our families, even our own lives, all take a backseat to the power and rule of God. It is this attitude that allowed Justin Martyr, one of the earliest Christians to die for his faith (and the one for whom all such martyrs are now named) to say: “You can kill us, but cannot do us any real harm.” This is what Luther meant when he wrote, “the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still.” Death has been defeated by Christ and holds no power over the Christian. All death does now is take us directly into the presence of God. As the apostle Paul said: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 15:56-57] Not only does Christ allow us to share in his victory over death, but “his kingdom is forever.” This is why Isaiah foretold that “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” [Isaiah 9:7] It is also referred to be the writer of Hebrews, who says, “therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” [Hebrews 12:28] No one, no thing, no power, will ever steal away one iota of Christ’s kingdom. It is forever! posted September 18, 2008

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

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It’s rare to find a hymn so popular that even those without a church upbringing can recognize (and often sing) it, but Amazing Grace is just such a hymn. Perhaps one of the reasons for its nearly universal familiarity is the simplicity with which it unfolds the power and purpose of grace; it brings comfort from the only place it can truly come, the promises of God. The biblical concept of grace is a key component to the gospel, in that it is God’s favor to us, completely undeserved and unmerited. In other words, God sent Jesus Christ to die for us – not because He was obligated to by something within us, or because we had earned such a prize – but as an act of pure grace. Remember grace is what “saved a wretch like me,” one who “once was blind” to all the truths of God and provision made by His Son. This is why Newton can attest that grace both “taught my heart to fear” (revealed the reality of his sinful condition) and “grace my fears relieved” (showed him God’s way of salvation through Christ). So grace is what tells us that we are "dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked" [Ephesians 2:1] but grace is also what tells us that God "made us alive together with Christ" [Ephesians 2:5]. Both the awareness of our need for a Savior and the provision of that same Savior are acts of God's amazing grace. But grace does more than simply make our salvation possible, it also sustains us through the process of sanctification – the gradual, steady transformation of a Christian into conformity with the image and person of Christ. The Lord’s grace “will lead me home” because He “has promised good to me” and “He will my Shield and Portion be.” It’s an echo of Philippians 1:6, which reminds us that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Grace has provided salvation, and it also provides sanctification. But that’s not all grace does: it also brings security. The phrase “His Word my hope secures” tells us that we can have a genuine confidence (not merely wishful thinking) in the promises and decrees of God. A Christian’s eternal future in heaven is fixed, not primarily because of something that he or she has done, but because God has said it is so. We know that this world is temporary; that is will “soon dissolve like snow” and be gone. Grace produces security in our hearts; hope in the promises of Christ. Jesus promised that “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” [John 14:3] And where is Christ? He is "seated at the right hand of God" [Colossians 3:1] in Heaven. So, for believers, our hope is heaven: a place where “ten thousand years” will only be the beginning; a place where "the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." [Revelation 21:3] Grace makes salvation possible, grace provides sanctification, and grace produces secure hope based on the trustworthiness of our gracious God. Praise Him for His truly amazing grace! posted August 17, 2009

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

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Everything in the universe – absolutely everything – exists for the glory of Christ, who in turn glorifies the Father. In one of the most spectacular ironies, the cross, the object of Christ’s humiliation becomes the very means of His exaltation. That an instrument of brutal death could be referred to as a “wondrous cross” is a testament to what Christ accomplished by His sacrifice. Seeing Jesus on the cross is a powerful antidote for the prideful attitudes we so often adopt. What excuse can we make for sin, knowing that our rebellion required His agony? He was, as the prophet Isaiah told is, “wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.“ [Isaiah 53:5] What sin is worth clinging to in light of our Savior’s death? Christ on the cross leads us to “pour contempt on my pride” and our sinful desires and “sacrifice them to His blood.” What can this world offer that compares to what we have in Christ? My “richest gain I count but loss.” There is nothing, absolutely nothing, equal to Jesus. So it goes beyond just sacrificing sinful desires or “the fleeting pleasures of sin” [Hebrews 11:25]; it’s a complete and total divorce from this world. The system of this world is at odds with God: it hates Him, hates His authority, hates His Word, and hates His Son. A person who is in Christ cannot also be in the world. The testimony of Scripture bears this out: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” [James 4:4] And again: “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” [1 John 2:15] This is what the cross of Christ does; it severs the connection between us and the world. His death breaks the dominion of sin so that “I am dead to all the globe, and all the globe is dead to me.” Ultimately, the cross is the expression of God’s “love so amazing, so divine.” It’s what led Paul to say that “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8] As horrific as Christ’s death was, it was not meaningless. It had purpose. It was a unique blend of “love and sorrow” that met in order to accomplish God’s designs. This showcase of love can never be repaid, even if we could offer “the whole realm of nature” as payment. This is why we must continue to “survey the wondrous cross.” As our thoughts center more and more around the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, we will find that sin loses its luster, the things of this world hold less attraction, and the love of God is firmly established in our souls. When trouble comes, survey the wondrous cross. When temptation beckons, survey the wondrous cross. When trials surround on every side, survey the wondrous cross – and be comforted in the love of God expressed so powerfully and perfectly to you. posted August 29, 2009

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree; Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

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Jesus is greater than sin. We often understand that statement in terms of power, meaning that Christ has conquered sin. We know that from His conception the Holy Spirit overshadowed him, that "the child born will be called holy" [Luke 1:35], or set apart. He was not born 'in Adam' as the rest of humanity is, therefore Christ was not “held in sin’s dread sway,” captive to the curse of eternal death [see Romans 6:23]. Throughout His life, Jesus never committed any personal sin of His own. He remained innocent before God. Because of this, Jesus was able to offer His perfectly obedient life as an acceptable sacrifice for our lives of sin. As “His nail-pierced hand” hung with the rest of Him from the cross, Jesus was bearing the Father’s righteous wrath against our rebellion. In doing so, Jesus "disarmed" [Colossians 2:15] sin and death and made it possible for God to forgive us and adopt us into His family. So Jesus is more powerful than sin.  But the idea that Jesus is greater than sin also refers to pleasure. In other words, the joy we already have in Christ surpasses any kind of gratification or temporary satisfaction we might get from giving into temptation. Jesus is better than sin. This is why a person can legitimately say that they would rather have Jesus than “silver or gold” and “houses or lands”: those things are quick, fleeting, and temporary. It's why Moses chose "rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin" [Hebrews 11:25]. Christ is eternal. What He provides will far outlast “riches untold.” Even the kings of “vast domains” must one day vacate their thrones, either by death or by force. Think of the world's largest empires: Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greek, Roman...today those empires are no more. There are no kings, no thrones, and no kingdoms. At the height of their power, each empire thought itself invincible, yet they have all been reduced to ruins and remembrance. This is why we are so thankful to God, who has provided an eternal "kingdom that cannot be shaken" [Hebrews 12:28]. All who are in Christ will share in His forever reign! So, how much do you desire Christ? Is Jesus merely something you cling to out of religious idealism or family pressure? Is Christ only good enough to help you navigate tricky dilemmas or make sense of the cultural morass? Have you relegated Christ to a position of spiritual advisor or faith guru? It must not be so. We must not think so little of Christ that we only rely on Him when we reach the end of our own self-sufficiency. And we must not think Christ so little that He is unaware of our foolish attempts to take matters into our own hands. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given" [Matthew 28:18] to Christ, along with the "name that is above every name" [Philippians 2:9] -- Lord. Jesus Christ, then, is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is more valuable than anything else in all creation. He is more valuable than your life, your spouse, your children, your career, your dreams, your goals, and all that you think you need. Nothing is all creation compares to Christ. Can we truly say that in comparison to Christ "I am dead to all the globe, and all the globe is dead to me." Is that how much you desire Him? What would you rather have? posted September 14, 2009

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand      Than to be the king of a vast domain,      Or be held in sin’s dread sway;      I’d rather have Jesus than anything      This world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs; I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

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Do we truly desire to be “nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee?” Are we at all concerned about growing in fellowship and communion with our Creator and Savior? Do we give any thought to the depth of our relationship with God? Do we know Him more than we once did? Do we trust Him completely? Are we drawing near to the Father? Of course, the ability to approach God at all is only found in Jesus Christ because “no one comes to the Father except through Me.” [John 14:6] And it is referring to Christians when Paul says that because we  “have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into the grace in which we stand…” [Romans 5:1-2] The word “Christian” literally means “little Christ.” It was first used in a derogatory manner against early disciples who were so much like Jesus in their way of life that it reminded others of Him, who then lashed out in hatred against those who identified themselves with Christ. Keep in mind that Christ Himself made it clear: all of His people would suffer in the same way He did. Jesus reminds us that “a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” [John 15:20] Paul echoes this sentiment later by saying “indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” [2 Timothy 3:12] So the question is not “will we suffer?” for we are certain that we will. The question is “will suffering drive us away from God or nearer to Him?” This is the question that Sarah Adams so wonderfully answered when she penned “so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.” If suffering comes, may it serve only to  cause us to cling all the more tightly to the One True God and the promises of His Son, Jesus Christ. There are times that God might “let the way appear, steps unto Heaven” and there are other times when “darkness be over me, my rest a stone.” In either case, God remains faithful. Do you believe that? Imagine what the disciples must have thought seeing Christ on the cross. If ever there was a moment when all hope seemed lost, that was it. But hope only seemed lost; God had not forgotten His promises. The resurrection of Christ proved that He is still the sovereign Lord. This is what led the apostle Paul to rejoice in his own sufferings; because Christ endured suffering, and if his own suffering made him more like Christ, then he welcomed it. Writing to the church in Philippi, he longed “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” [Philippians 3:10-11] It’s shocking how counter-wise Paul’s plea runs to our own hearts, which so often cling to worthless, earthly things. Do we see our own comfort, convenience -- and even life itself –- as things to be sacrificed in the process of our sanctification? Is our desire to be like Christ so strong that we would be raised on a cross? Can we truly say that we have such a strong burden to be near to Christ that we would endure anything to be with Him, “even though it be a cross that raiseth me”? posted October 28, 2009

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!  Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone. Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!  There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n; All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given; Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!  Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise; So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!  Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

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The foundation is the most important part of the building. It doesn’t matter how ornate the decorations, how tall it goes, how many square feet it has, or what color the curtains are—if the foundation is bad, the building is ruined. It’s the difference Jesus pointed out between a house built “on the rock” and “on the sand.” [Matthew 7:24-27] Only a rock-solid foundation can keep the building from total collapse. Thankfully, God has provided such a foundation for our lives in the person of Christ. And He is the only sure foundation on which our lives can be built with the promise to endure. It’s why Mote refers to Christ as “the solid Rock” and says that “all other ground is sinking sand.” So Christ is the only foundation that will last, but why do we even need a firm foundation? What is it that we are trying to build and also need to last through “every high and stormy gale”? Hope. Hope, according to the writer of Hebrews, is “an anchor for the soul,” [Hebrews 6:19] serving to hold us steady against the raging winds and turbulent seas of life. If the anchor has found solid ground, it will hold the boat, but if it merely dangles in the water, it will offer little help “in the whelming flood.” It is the same way with hope that is built on Christ, more specifically, on “Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Jesus’ blood is necessary for hope because it is only His blood that can serve as a substitute for our own. Sin demands a blood offering (for life itself is the only appropriate punishment for the severity of treason against the Almighty King of the universe, see Hebrews 9:22) but in order for that offering to be found acceptable, it must also be pure—without sin. [see Psalm 24:3-4] No human could ever offer his own blood to God because it has already been tainted by sin (both Adam’s and our own). Conversely, no innocent animal’s blood could ever atone for human sin. In Christ, however, both qualifications are met: He alone has the pure, human blood that provides an acceptable sacrifice and therefore allows Him to bear the wrath of God in our place. Jesus’ righteousness is necessary for hope because all “fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23] and are helpless to change our guilty status before Him. If we are ever going to be declared innocent in God’s eyes, it will require a righteousness from outside ourselves. This is what Christ provides, declaring that those who are in Him will receive credit for His perfect life—as if we had lived it ourselves, though we were powerless to do so. With these two things—Jesus’ blood and righteousness—combined, we have the basis for Christian hope. Death and judgment will still come for us, but we do not fear them, our sins paid for by Christ and His righteousness given to us. It’s why we can rightly sing: “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” And don’t miss the main point of this hymn: it is Christ alone that can give this confident hope. No other “sweetest frame” can ever compare to “Jesus’ name.” Even in those times when “darkness seems to hide His face,” we can trust in what He has done for us on the cross, on His “unchanging grace.” Without Christ, we are lost. In Christ, we have a solid Rock whose life, death, and resurrection show us that “hope does not disappoint.” [Romans 5:5] posted May 21, 2010

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.    On Christ the solid Rock I stand,    All other ground is sinking sand;    All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.

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Horatio Spafford was a businessman in Chicago in the late 1800s. A fire that ravaged the city left him (and numerous others) in financial straits. Shortly thereafter, his wife and four daughters left ahead of him for a vacation in England, with Spafford staying behind to try and restore his business dealings. The boat carrying his family was struck by another ship, and all four of his daughters died at sea. When his wife reached her destination, she sent him a telegram that started with the words: “Saved alone.” Soon after, Spafford journeyed to be with his wife. When his boat passed by the buoy that marked the spot of his daughters’ death, he was inspired to write the words to this hymn. And this background information is important to know when it comes to this hymn because singing “it is well with my soul” means something vastly different when it is sung amidst such tragedy. What gives a man the ability to write “it is well” in the face of the loss of three daughters? Because it is well; not with life or death, but “with my soul”. Things could scarcely be worse from a human perspective, but Spafford is able to see things from God’s perspective. Like Paul, “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” [2 Cor. 4:18]  From this point of view, Spafford’s daughters aren’t gone—but only gone ahead. They are now with their Lord, knowing that “the sky, not the grave, is our goal.” The hope of heaven is not a mere superstition or wishful thinking for the Christian. No, it is an absolute certainty, founded on the truth that “Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.” Willingly leaving the glory of heaven, Christ “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” [Phil. 2:8] It was in that sacrificial death that the full payment was made for the sin of His people; we no longer have to pay the wages of our sin. Instead, “my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more." With God’s wrath against sin satisfied in Christ, our eternal security is sure. So while this world may not always (if ever) make sense to us, we can be absolutely confident that everything will be made right in the age to come. “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,” these things will not have the last word. This promise is true because of the One who makes it. He is good, faithful, loving, and trustworthy, and what He has started He will finish when Christ returns. All sin will be cast out, all suffering will end, and our God Himself will “wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore...” [Rev. 21:3-4] God is our help, and He is our hope, and one day He will take us home. On that day, our “faith shall be sight.” Though it can be difficult to see with eyes of faith in the here and now, may God allow His eternal perspective to take root in our hearts, that we may be strengthened by His promises when all else fails. In that way, we can truly sing: “whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know, it is well with my soul.”    posted June 17, 2010

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know, It is well, it is well, with my soul.    It is well, with my soul,    It is well, with my soul,    It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

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“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” With these words, Toplady expresses one of the most central truths in the Bible: “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” [Jonah 2:10] It belongs to God in terms of its origin, its implementation, its fulfillment, and its application to His people. We are only able to be made right with God because He has made it possible—and He did so through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Because we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Rom. 3:23], our best efforts utterly fail at reconciling us to God. The issue isn’t that we aren’t trying hard enough, it’s that we are unable to produce anything good according to God’s perfect standard of goodness. Apart from Christ, we are wicked people, ungodly sinners, and enemies of the Lord. So all our “labor…zeal…tears” could be added up, but the sum total of every ‘good’ thing we’ve done “all for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.” It is only by trusting Christ that we can be saved. His blood will then “be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.” Christ’s death solves both of our major problems before God: our sinful, unrighteousness and the wrath that it merits. Christ took our sin upon Himself, then took God’s wrath against that sin upon Himself, dealing with both our sin and its consequence. “For our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” [2 Cor. 5:21] and “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” [Is.53:6] So the cross of Christ takes on new meaning for us when we realize that we are completely without hope as long as we rely on our own selves. We have no inherent goodness to work from; no righteousness to appeal to. We must instead admit our need for a Savior and “naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless look to Thee for grace.” We have done nothing to earn God’s favor or His forgiveness—especially since it comes at such a great cost—but He has made salvation possible, “making peace by the blood of His cross.” [Col. 1:20] One day, whether by our own deaths or by Christ’s return, our time here will come to an end. Then we will “see Thee on Thy judgment throne.” Everyone will stand before God in judgment. This is no small thing. The Almighty, sovereign Lord of the cosmos, omniscient Maker of all, will judge us. In that day, standing before holiness, “every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” [Rom. 3:19] What hope do we have before the One who knows all? Christ alone is our hope. Only His blood can save us from God’s wrath. In that day, we will not appeal to our own impossible attempts at righteousness, nor will we broker a deal with the Judge. Our only hope of escaping God’s wrath is in the “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.”  posted September 11, 2010

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure. Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eye-strings break in death When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.

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“God moves in a mysterious way” is the kind of thing people like to say when they can’t make sense of things around them. Far from being a cop out (although it has certainly been misused in that way), this truth is a great comfort to those who trust in the God who “works His sovereign will.” Perhaps this is seen most clearly in the trials and sufferings we face as part of human existence. It is in these often inexplicable moments that the truths of this hymn ring most true. The very storm clouds that we “so much dread” are, in reality, “big with mercy” and will soon rain showers of “blessings on your head.” God is ultimately responsible for our trials, but not because He is ‘out to get us.’ God is not the architect of a devious plot to torment people pointlessly, nor does He want our trials to turn us away from Him. Instead, the entire point of trials is to drive us to God. Our Father allows suffering into our lives in order that we might be drawn closer to Him and transformed more into the likeness of His Son. As James reminds us, there is a divine purpose in each and every one of our trials: “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” [Jam. 1:3] When the doctor tells you that you have an inoperable tumor, or the policeman shows up at your doorstep to tell you that your husband has been killed in a car accident, or you find your infant daughter has died in her sleep, how will you respond? Will you blame God and accuse Him of conspiring against you? Will you sink into despair? Or will you trust in God? It’s much easier to trust in God when our lives are easy; but what will happen when they become difficult? Do we know God well enough to have confidence in His love and His will for our lives? Are we prepared to trust Him through trials? This kind of hope is possible because ultimately, our hope is in the life yet to come. And we cling to that hope—fiercely and doggedly—because it is the only thing that can sustain us through very real, very deep seasons of pain and sorrow. We are not promised one day of comfort or peace in this life, but Christians are promised comfort and peace for eternity once this life is over. This is the hope that we hold on to in times of suffering and pain; this is the hope that helps us endure the difficulties, knowing that something greater awaits us. As Paul told the church in Corinth, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” [1 Cor. 15:19] We can survive, not because of any strength within ourselves, but because of God’s strength. He has promised that we will survive—not this world, but to eternal life in the next. His mercy is stronger than our misery. Paul understood this all too well: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain...my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” [Phil. 1:21-23] Above all, we have to remember that there are greater truths than our interpretations of the events going on around us. “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense” we are reminded. Things that we perceive and feel aren’t always accurate indicators of reality. In Cowper's words: “God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.”  posted May 25, 2011

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

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I have worn glasses since the third grade. My eyesight is quite poor, so I literally need those lenses to see anything not immediately in front of my face. Without them, everything becomes blurry. In a very similar fashion, the clarity with which we see both this age and the age to come depends in large part on what lens we are viewing them through. This is, in part, why Forgaill's plea is for God to be his "vision." It is only when we view life from God's perspective that we come to a more accurate understanding of reality. But it is also why he asks God to be his "wisdom," because it is not enough to merely see things clearly, but we must be able to discern what they mean. Of course, these requests for spiritual sight and discernment are possible only because we have been united with Christ and adopted by God: "Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one." Apart from Christ, we cannot gain access to the Father, but now that we are found in Him, we have both access and confidence. For "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" [Rom. 8:32] One of the truths we will quickly discover when God is our vision and wisdom is that we are engaged in conflict with satanic forces that seek "to steal and kill and destroy." [John 10:10] Against such powers, we find both strength and shelter in God alone. He is our "battle Shield, Sword for the fight" and it is by His might we can stand against evil [see Eph. 6:10-13]. Another truth we soon learn has to do with the transient nature of this world that we live in; it will all soon pass away. That's why we must say: "Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise." We forsake the temporary things of this world--including its approval--choosing instead to rest in the future, eternal promise of Christ, our "inheritance, now and always." And make no mistake: Christ is the treasure. It is not streets of gold or luxurious rooms in the Father's house--without Christ those are meaningless. There is nothing in the cosmos that can compare to the treasure we have in Christ, a treasure His people will enjoy for eternity. Ultimately, all of this is possible because through Christ we can say "my victory won." The cross and the empty tomb speak with certainty about His defeat of death. He is the living, reigning Lord and we have been brought into union with Him. May our prayer be: "Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still by my Vision, o Ruler of all."   posted June 1, 2011

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight; Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

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"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..." [1 Cor. 15:3-4] When Paul wrote those words, he was expressing a vital truth about the fundamental nature of Christianity: no matter who far we grow in the faith, we never outgrow the gospel. This hymn beautifully retells the gospel story--and its implications in the lives of believers--in a poignant, yet powerful manner. It is only "in Christ alone my hope is found." There is no one else like Him, no one else who can do what He has done on our behalf. When even the "fiercest drought and storm" threaten to undo us, in Christ our "fears are stilled" and we find Him to be our "Comforter" and "all in all." But why? What gives us this kind of hope and confidence in Christ? What makes it any more real than a fairy tale or myth? It is because Christ, the "fullness of God" willingly "took on flesh." He then laid that life down in our place, taking our guilt upon Himself, "till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied; for ev'ry sin on Him was laid." He bore our sin and He bore God's righteous judgment against that sin. The Bible explains this transaction like so: "For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Cor. 5:21] Jesus had no sin of His own, but He took our sin on Himself. In exchange, He gives us His righteousness. We are credited with His perfection, as if we had lived a perfect life ourselves. God's judgment is paid and He can declare us innocent in Christ. He is both the "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." [Rom. 3:26] We know God's wrath was satisfied because Jesus' tomb is empty. Instead of being defeated by death, "up from the grave He rose again!" God raised Him to life as proof of His finished work. Now, Christ "stands in victory" and His people will share in that victory forever, for we have been "bought with the precious blood of Christ." What does this mean in the day-to-day lives of those who are His? We have the dual promise of "no guilt in life" and "no fear in death." His power at work within us and through us and for us reminds us that "from life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny." Nothing is outside of His providence or power. He has saved us, He has called us, and He will keep us, both now and forever. So the confidence we have in the Christian life is not primarily based on our faith or the amount of it we have. Instead, we trust in the work of Christ, knowing that He will hold on to us when our strength is gone. "No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand." We needn't worry about what the future holds; we needn't despair over what we cannot yet see or know; we need only to trust in Him "till He returns or calls me home." posted June 8, 2011

In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all— Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev'ry sin on Him was laid— Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine— Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

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The book of Hebrews is, in many ways, an explanation of how Jesus is greater than all that has come before Him. As the Son of God, Jesus is greater than the angels, He is greater than Moses, He is greater than the priesthood, He is greater than every sacrifice offered--for He Himself is the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of His people. "We see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone." [Heb. 2:9] Although the authors of this hymn have been lost in the anonymity of history, it seems that one of their purposes in writing was similar to the work of the equally anonymous book of Hebrews: to proclaim the superior greatness and eternal supremacy of Jesus Christ. Jesus is introduced to us in this song as "ruler of all nature," something that He demonstrated during His incarnation by calming storms, walking on water, withering a fig tree, and causing His disciples to catch too many fish for their nets to hold. Whenever and wherever He spoke, nature had no choice but to obey its Maker's voice. There are undoubtedly many beautiful things in this cosmos: distant galaxies glimmering in the night sky, ocean waves gently rolling onto sandy shores, towering pines standing atop snow-capped mountains, even things like "meadows...woodlands...sunshine...[and] moonlight." But Jesus is more beautiful than them all. Nothing in all of creation can compare to the beauty of Christ, the One who made and sustains all things. In fact, all true beauty, both "heavenly and earthly" is "wondrously, Jesus, found in Thee." Jesus Christ is the source and substance of all beauty, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power." [Heb. 1:3] What we must also remember, however, is that Jesus is not merely the ruler of nature, but He is "Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!" He is the victorious conqueror of death, and He alone is seated at the Father's right hand! He has humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, and now He has been exalted by God and given the name that is above every name--He is Lord. It is fitting, then, that this hymn's final words: "Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forever more be Thine" are echoes of the song sung to Jesus in eternity: "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” [Rev. 4:11]   posted June 15, 2011

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels heaven can boast. All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly, Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee; None can be nearer, fairer or dearer, Than Thou, my Savior, art to me. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, Now and forever more be Thine.

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Of all the hymns that have been written through the years, this one has become my favorite. This is due to many reasons, but perhaps the most decisive factor is the way that the words resonate the truths of Scripture as they are sung. This song presents the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that is both powerful and poetic. Consider where this song begins: "Before the throne of God above." That is not a place to which just anyone can go at any time they wish. To be in the presence of a king--much less the King--requires the right to the there; it requires acceptance. The Psalmist asks: "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully." [Ps. 24:3-4] The requirements for being in God's presence, then, are clean hands and pure hearts. As rebellious sinners, we have no such right to enter God's presence. However, Christ does meet those requirements. He is our "great high Priest" and He "ever lives and pleads" for His people. We have gained access to God through the blood of Christ, and "while in heaven He stands" we cannot be expelled. Understanding this truth is so important because there will be times when "Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within." When the Accuser reminds me of my sin and wickedness, to what hope can I cling? My own sense of righteousness? My own standard of good works? These provide no comfort--they are the basis of Satan's accusation! Instead, "upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin." It is "because the sinless Savior died" that "my sinful soul is counted free." And this is the key to it all: "For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me." This expresses what Paul wrote: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith...so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." [Rom. 3:23-26] God is both Just and the justifier of the ones who have faith in Jesus. Sin still bears the full wrath of God--but Jesus takes our place and bears the wrath that our sins deserve. So God is just in that sin's penalty is paid, and He is the justifier in that we are declared righteous by virtue of Christ, not ourselves. Satan's accusations are empty because it is not us but Christ who is our "perfect, spotless righteousness." There will come a day when each of us stands before God. In that moment, He will declare whether or not we are worthy to enter His presence and remain with Him for eternity. None who trust in their own goodness or who rely on their own sense of self-justification can have any hope of entrance. All who get to enter heaven will get to do so for the exact same reason: "One with Himself, I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood. My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Savior and my God!"    posted June 22, 2011

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea, A great high Priest whose Name is Love, Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart. I know that while in heaven He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart. When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free, For God, the Just, is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me. Behold Him there, the risen Lamb, My perfect, spotless righteousness, The great unchangeable I AM, The King of glory and of grace. One with Himself, I cannot die, My soul is purchased by His blood. My life is hid with Christ on high, With Christ, my Savior and my God!

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