Sunday's Hymn: Reader's Choice

This week's hymn is chosen for us by Russell Sutherland.

We sang it at the memorial service for our son Jonathan who died of accidental drowning 7 years ago.

This one is written by John Nelson Darby, who is probably better known to you as a founder of the Plymouth Brethren and an advocate of dispensationalism than as a writer of hymns. Russell is right when he says that "this poem will strike an affectionate chord in terms of our eternal relationship with Christ."

And Is It So?

And is it so--I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory (thought beyond all thought!)--
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!

Oh, Jesus, Lord, who loved me like to Thee?
Fruit of Thy work, with Thee, too, there to see
Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll,
Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul.

Yet it must be: Thy love had not its rest
Were Thy redeemed not with Thee fully blest.
That love that gives not as the world, but shares
All it possesses with its loved co-heirs.

Nor I alone; Thy loved ones all, complete
In glory, round Thee there with joy shall meet,
All like Thee, for Thy glory like Thee, Lord,
Object supreme of all, by all adored.

The heart is satisfied; can ask no more
All thought of self is now forever o'er:
Christ, its un-mingled Object, fills the heart
In blest adoring love--the endless part.

Father of mercies, in Thy presence bright
All this shall be unfolded in the light;
Thy children all, with joy Thy counsels know
Fulfilled; patient in hope, while here below.

Wonderful words, aren't they? The tune is Eventide--the tune for Abide With Me. Listen.