And His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face. (Revelation 22: 3, 4)

O City vast and beautiful,
O Zion rich and rare,
With jasper wall so wonderful
And golden street so fair;
Thy loveliness enthralls me,
Thy joy my heart would share;
Thy pearly portals call me,
I long to enter there.

There vision is unclouded
Of Him who is the light,
And service is unwearied,
For day eclipses night.
And purity unsullied
Gilds all that holy place,
While deathless, sinless peoples
Behold His lovely face.

O home of holy angels,
And sweet unceasing song;
Of happy Hallelujahs
From that unnumbered throng.
Where prophet, priest, and patriarch,
With cherubim attend,
And raptured saints, and seraphs,
In willing worship blend.

Apostles, kings, and martyrs,
Whose pilgrim path is trod,
Now dwell amid Thy glory,
The City of their God;
Where holy seers and sages
Adore the tender Lamb,
and saints of all the ages
Unite in endless psalm.

The Lamb is there the temple,
The Lamb upon the throne
No sun, no moon, no candle,
Yet darkness is unknown,
And sin, and things defiling,
Shall never enter there,
But radiant hosts together
Thy bliss and brightness share.

What loving links were broken
At Jordan’s chilly wave,
What farewells left unspoken
At many a cruel grave;
Now in Thy joy excelling,
All gather round the throne,
All in Thy glory dwelling
At rest, at peace, at home.

No sea, no raging billow,
Shall separate again;
No night, no restless pillow,
No tear, no ill, no pain.
No curse, no sin invading,
Shall spoil thy crystal scene,
But bliss and light unfading,
And holiness serene.

O City vast and beautiful,
O land of endless day;
Thy foursquare calls us
From earth’s sad scene away.
Soon at thy crystal river
We’ll sing His matchless grace,
And for the sweet forever
Gaze our Saviour’s face.
(Jim Flanigan)

ETERNAL INK

I dreamed I was in Heaven where an angel kept God’s book.
He was writing so intently I just had to take a look.
It was not at first his writing that made me stop and think
But the fluid in the bottle that was marked “Eternal Ink”.
This ink was most amazing; dark, black upon his blotter
But as it touched the parchment it became as clear as water.

The angel kept on writing but as quickly as a wink
The words were disappearing with that strange eternal ink.
The angel took no notice but kept writing on and on;
He turned each page and filled it till all its space was gone.
I thought he wrote to no avail, his efforts were so vain
For he wrote a thousand pages that he’d never read again.

And as I watched and wondered that this awesome sight was mine,
I actually saw a word stay black as it dried upon the line.
The angel wrote and I thought I saw a look of satisfaction;
At last he had some print to show for all his earnest action.
A line or two dried dark and stayed as black as black can be
But strangely the next paragraph became invisible to see.

The book was getting fuller, the angel’s records true,
But most of it was blank, with just a few words coming through.
I knew there was some reason, but as hard as I could think,
I couldn’t grasp the significance of that eternal ink.
The mystery burned within me and I finally dared to ask
The angel to explain to me of his amazing task.

And what I heard was frightful as the angel turned his head.
He looked directly at me and this is what he said:
“I know you stand and wonder at what my writing’s worth
But God has told me to record the lives of those on earth.
The book that I am filling is an accurate account
Of every word and action and to what they do amount.

And since you have been watching I must tell you what is true;
The details of my journal are the strict accounts of YOU.
The Lord asked me to watch you as each day you worked and played.
I saw you as you went to church; I saw you as you prayed.
But I was told to document your life through all the week.
I wrote when you were proud and bold, I wrote when you were meek.

I recorded all your attitudes, whether they were good or bad.
I was sorry that I had to write the things that make God sad.
So now I’ll tell the wonder of this eternal ink,
For the reason for its mystery should make you stop and think.
This ink that God created to help me keep my journal
Will only keep a record of things that are eternal.

So much of life is wasted on things that matter not
So instead of my erasing smudging ink and ugly blot
I just keep writing faithfully and let the ink do all the rest
For it is able to decide what’s useless and what’s best.
And God ordained that as I write of all you do and say
Your deeds that count for nothing will just disappear away.

When books are opened someday as sure as Heaven is true,
The Lord’s eternal ink will tell what mattered most to you.
If you just lived to please yourself the pages will be bare,
And God will issue no reward for you when you get there.
In fact, you’ll be embarrassed; you will hang your head in shame
Because you did not give yourself in love to Jesus’ Name.

Yet, maybe there will be a few recorded lines that stayed,
That showed the times you truly cared, sincerely loved and prayed.
But you will always wonder, as you enter Heaven’s door,
How much more glad you would have been if only you’d done more.
For I record as God sees; I don’t stop to even think,
Because the truth is written with God’s eternal ink.”

When I heard the angel’s story I fell down and wept and cried
For as yet I still was dreaming; I hadn’t really died.
And I said: “O angel, tell the Lord that soon as I awake
I’ll live my life for Jesus. I’ll do all for His dear sake.
I’ll give in full surrender; I’ll do all He wants me to;
I’ll turn my back on self and sin and whatever isn’t true.

And though the way seems long and rough, I promise to endure.
I’m determined to pursue the things that are holy, clean and pure.
With Jesus as my helper I will win lost souls to Thee,
For I know that they will live with Christ for all eternity.
And that’s what really matters when my life on earth is gone
That I will stand before the Lord and hear Him say, “Well done”.

For is it really worth it as my life lies at the brink
And I realise that God keeps books with His eternal ink’
Should all my life be focused on things that turn to dust’
From this point on I’ll serve the Lord; I can, I will, I must!
I will NOT send blank pages up to God’s majestic throne
For where that record’s going now is my eternal home.

I’m giving all to Jesus; I now have seen the link
For I saw an angel write my life
With God’s Eternal ink.

BLESSED HOPE

If in this life dear Lord alone
There’s hope for Adam’s race
And none their guilty sins atone
And none show sovereign grace

We would of all most miserable be
And better had no birth
If heaven our eyes should never see
But only scenes of earth

Our hopes in Thee our risen Lord
For Thou hast borne the cost
And God has pledged His Holy Word
That none who trust are lost

This heaven and home for all who take
The guilty sinners place
And here on earth their sins forsake
Made objects of His grace

THE CITY FOURSQUARE

O City vast and beautiful,
O Zion rich and rare,
With jasper wall so wonderful
And golden street so fair;
Thy loveliness enthralls me,
Thy joy my heart would share;
Thy pearly portals call me,
I long to enter there.

There vision is unclouded
Of Him who is the light,
And service is unwearied,
For day eclipses night.
And purity unsullied
Gilds all that holy place,
While deathless, sinless peoples
Behold His lovely face.

O home of holy angels,
And sweet unceasing song;
Of happy Hallelujahs
From that unnumbered throng.
Where prophet, priest, and patriarch,
With cherubim attend,
And raptured saints, and seraphs,
In willing worship blend.

Apostles, kings, and martyrs,
Whose pilgrim path is trod,
Now dwell amid Thy glory,
The City of their God;
Where holy seers and sages
Adore the tender Lamb,
and saints of all the ages
Unite in endless psalm.

The Lamb is there the temple,
The Lamb upon the throne
No sun, no moon, no candle,
Yet darkness is unknown,
And sin, and things defiling,
Shall never enter there,
But radiant hosts together
Thy bliss and brightness share.

What loving links were broken
At Jordan’s chilly wave,
What farewells left unspoken
At many a cruel grave;
Now in Thy joy excelling,
All gather round the throne,
All in Thy glory dwelling
At rest, at peace, at home.

No sea, no raging billow,
Shall separate again;
No night, no restless pillow,
No tear, no ill, no pain.
No curse, no sin invading,
Shall spoil thy crystal scene,
But bliss and light unfading,
And holiness serene.

O City vast and beautiful,
O land of endless day;
Thy foursquare calls us
From earth’s sad scene away.
Soon at thy crystal river
We’ll sing His matchless grace,
And for the sweet forever
Gaze our Saviour’s face.
(Jim Flanigan)

And His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face. (Revelation 22: 3, 4)

NO CONTINUING CITY HERE

The partings of this present life
Are but our lot as here we roam
There’s nothing here but sin and strife
That makes us long for heaven and home

There is a path marked out for you
A path the Lord would have you tread
May you no other path pursue
But by His gracious hand be led

And now that we’re about to part
Perhaps no more on earth to meet
Let’s bear each other on our heart
Until we gather round His feet

BLESSED HOPE

He’s coming soon for sinners such as I
He’s coming soon to take me home on high
He’s coming soon I’ll bid this world goodbye
He’s coming soon for me

THE BEST IS YET TO BE

Whatever trials may come each day
As here on earth we roam
Each step along the pilgrim way
But leads to heaven and home

It’s only here we’ll shed a tear
Or have an anxious care
For in that blissful heavenly sphere
We’ll meet our Saviour there

Our earthly race will then be run
And happy we shall be
At home with God’s Beloved Son
Throughout Eternity
R.A. (28 – 12 – 65)
 

WHEN LIFE’S JOURNEY HERE IS ENDED

When life’s journey here is ended
And the Saviour welcomes me
To that home He has prepared
There to swell eternally.

Then I shall be like the Saviour
As He is, I then shall see
I’ll be satisfied when gazing
In that face once marred for me.

As I gaze upon the nail prints
And the thorn marks on His brow
I shall worship and adore Him
Gladly at His footstool bow.

There to join with all the ransomed
In that sweet harmonious strain
And to raise our hallelujahs
To the Lamb who once was slain.

As He listens to that chorus
Unto Him who set us free
And has washed us in His blood
Satisfied He then shall be.

There will be no need for sunshine
In that fairest city bright
For the Lamb is all the glory
And the Lamb is all the light. M.H.

THE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAVEN

There is One that I know up in heaven,
He’s the brightness of heaven to me,
The Lord Jesus Christ in the glory,
Heaven’s worthy, thrice worthy One, He!

He’s the light of that “excellent glory,”
Whose luster no cloud can alloy,
The pulse of its exquisite rapture,
The song of its shadowless joy!

I will not then go as a stranger,
For I know that the first I shall see
Is the very same Jesus “Who loved me,
And gave Himself”—even for me.

Enough! till the light of the morning
Shall the song and the rapture complete
In the bliss of that wonderful moment
When the Bride and Bridegroom shall meet!

Ah, many a painter is ardent,
And many a poet excels,
Portraying the scene of that glory
Where the One that I know ever dwells;

But hush! there’s a family secret
That only to children is told,
A precious love-secret, far brighter
Than visions of crystal and gold,

‘Tis the knowledge that into that glory
No angel our escort shall be,
For the One that I know, up in heaven,
Is the One who is coming for me!

Oh, height of unspeakable gladness!
Oh, depth of unuttered delight!
The Lord Jesus Christ in His beauty
That moment shall burst on our sight!

He’ll raise the “corruptible” all-glorious,
And change the “vile body” that day,
And we “shall be caught up together,”
For the partings have all passed away!

All joys of unsearchable sweetness
Will that long-looked for moment afford,
But oh, for the crowning completeness
Of seeing, of meeting, the Lord!
J.M.G. 

T’IS BETTER ON BEFORE

The best is yet to be
The thought just thrills our heart
At home Dear Lord with Thee
And never more to part

A MEDITATION

Just to hear the wondrous story
Of the Saviour’s dying love
Just to get a glimpse in glory
Of my Risen Lord above
 Then my joy will be complete
Never more from Him to part
Gladly fall down at His feet
To worship with unsinning heart
(24 – 5 – 65)

WE’LL MEET IN THE MORNING

Revelation 21:4 & 25

We’ll meet in the morning when all earth’s trials are o’er
We’ll meet in the morning on that blissful heavenly shore
Our tears and our sorrows will have vanished all away
We’ll then have passed from earth’s dark night to heaven’s most perfect day

At home with our Saviour and never more to part
And share in the joy of His ever loving heart
To join with the ransomed in that happy heavenly song
Oh grant Blessed Saviour the time will not be long

WONDERFUL NAME

Isaiah 9:6

Dear Lord we praise Thy Wonderful Name
For Thou hast borne our sin and shame
And suffered on the cruel tree
That we the guilty might go free

Thy power and presence Lord make known
Each day to those Thou hast made Thine own
That we each trial may overcome
As step by step we journey home

And when we reach the heavenly shore
We’ll grieve Thy heart dear Lord no more
For like Thee then Dear Lord we’ll be
Throughout a long eternity

BRIGHT IN THE GLORY

Bright in the glory,
Where my Lord has gone before:
Safe in the glory,
To go out no more.
I shall soon have entered,
In His likeness satisfied,
All my thoughts there centered
In the Glorified.
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
Thou art all in all to me;
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
I would live to Thee.

There in the glory,
I shall see my Lord who died;
Throned in the glory,
Lives the Crucified.
Lightly weighs life’s burden,
As I gladly journey on,
Precious is the vision,
Of Christ, the Risen One.
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
Praise and glory be to Thee;
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
All my joy’s in Thee.

Soon in the glory,
We shall gather everyone;
Loud in the glory,
Raise the joyful song.
Unto Him who loves us,
Never-ceasing praise be given,
Sing we Hallelujah
To the Lord of heaven.
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
Soon forevermore with Thee;
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
We Thy face shall see.

FOREVER WITH THE LORD

Forever with the Lord!
Amen; so let it be,
Life from the dead is in that word,
‘Tis immortality.

Here in the body pent,
Absent from him I roam,
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day’s march nearer home.

My Father’s house on high,
Home of my soul, so near,
At times, to faith’s far-seeing eye
Thy golden gates appear!

Yet clouds will intervene,
And all my prospect flies,
Like Noah’s dove, I flit between
Rough seas and stormy skies.

And the clouds depart,
The winds and waters cease,
While sweetly o’er my gladdened heart
Expands the bow of peace.

In darkness as in light,
Hidden alike from view,
I sleep, I wake, as in his sight,
Who looks all nature through.

Forever with the Lord!
Father, if ’tis thy will,
The promise of that faithful word
Even here to me fulfil.

Be thou at my right hand,
Then can I never fail,
Uphold thou me, and I shall stand,
Fight, and I must prevail.

Knowing as I am known,
How shall I love that word!
And oft repeat before the throne,
Forever with the Lord!

Forever with the Lord!
Amen; so let it be,
Life from the dead is in that word,
‘Tis immortality.
Octavius Winslow
 

HEAVEN AT LAST

Angel voices sweetly singing,
Echoes through the blue dome ringing,
News of wondrous gladness bringing…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Now beneath us all the grieving,
All the wounded spirit’s heaving,
All the woe of hopes deceiving…
Ah ’tis heaven at last!

Sin for ever left behind us,
Earthly visions cease to blind us,
Fleshly fetters cease to bind us…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

On the jasper threshold standing,
Like a pilgrim safely landing
See, the strange bright scene expanding…
Ah ’tis heaven at last!

What a city! what a glory!
Far beyond the brightest story
Of the ages old and hoary…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Softest voices silver pealing,
Freshest fragrances spirit-healing,
Happy hymns around us stealing…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Gone the vanity and folly,
Gone the dark and melancholy,
Come the joyous and the holy…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Not a broken blossom yonder,
Not a link can snap asunder,
Stay’d the tempest, sheathed the thunder…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Not a tear-drop ever falleth,
Not a pleasure ever palleth,
Song to song for ever calleth…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Christ Himself the living splendour,
Christ the sunlight mild and tender;
Praises to the Lamb we render…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Now at length the veil is rended,
Now the pilgrimage is ended,
And the saints their thrones ascended…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!

Broken death’s dread bands that bound us,
Life and victory around us,
Christ the King Himself hath crowned us…
Ah, ’tis heaven at last!
Horatius Bonar
 

BLESSED HOMELAND

Gliding o’er life’s fitful waters,
Heavy surges sometimes roll;
And we sigh for yonder haven,
For the homeland of the soul.

Blessed homeland, ever fair!
Sin can never enter there;
But the soul, to life awaking,
Everlasting bloom shall wear.

Oft we catch a faint reflection,
Of its bright and vernal hills;
And, though distant, how we hail it!
How each heart with rapture thrills!

To our Father, and our Saviour,
To the Spirit, Three in One,
We shall sing glad songs of triumph
When our harvest work is done.

‘Tis the weary pilgrim’s homeland,
Where each throbbing care shall cease,
And our longings and our yearnings,
Like a wave, be hushed to peace.
Fanny Crosby
 

BRIGHT FOREVER

Breaking through the clouds that gather,
O’er the Christian’s natal skies,
Distant beams, like floods of glory,
Fill the soul with glad surprise;
And we almost hear the echo
Of the pure and holy throng,
In the bright, the bright forever,
In the summer land of song.

Yet a little while we linger,
Ere we reach our journey’s end;
Yet a little while of labour,
Ere the evening shades descend;
Then we’ll lay us down to slumber,
But the night will soon be o’er;
In the bright, the bright forever,
We shall wake, to weep no more.

O the bliss of life eternal!
O the long unbroken rest!
In the golden fields of pleasure,
In the region of the blessed;
But, to see our dear Redeemer,
And before His throne to fall,
There to bear His gracious welcome,
Will be sweeter far than all.
Fanny Crosby
 

ON THE THRESHOLD

I’m returning, not departing;
My steps are homeward bound,
I quit the land of strangers
For a home on native ground.

I am rising and not setting;
This is not night but day,
Not in darkness, but in sunshine,
Like a star, I fade away.

All is well with me for ever;
I do not fear to go,
My tide is but beginning
Its bright eternal flow.

I am leaving only shadows
For the true and fair and good,
I must not, cannot, linger;
I would not, though I could.

This is not death’s dark portal,
‘Tis life’s golden gate to me,
Link after link is broken,
And I at last am free.

I am going to the angels,
I am going to my God;
I know the hand that beckons,
I see the holy road.

Why grieve me with your weeping?
Your tears are all in vain,
An hour’s farewell, beloved,
And we shall meet again.

Jesus, Thou wilt receive me
And welcome me above;
This sunshine which now fills me
Is Thine own smile of love.
Horatius Bonar