UNTIL THEN

This song was composed by Stuart Hamblem in 1958.  You may recall that I shared the story of his conversion, through the ministry of Billy Graham, in a blog on August 28, 2012.  That blog had to do with his song "It Is No Secret".  I have not been able to find out any details concerning the motivation for or the events around the writing of the lyrics of this week's choice.  Perhaps it was the Old Testament story of when the Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon.  In Jeremiah 29 the Lord gave them some instructions on how to live while they are in exile.  He told them to marry, have children, build houses, plant crops, etc. He gave them instructions to live normal lives and do normal things.  God also told them the captivity was going to last 70 years.  Although they probably didn't like to hear it, they weren't going to go back "until" the 70 years were over.  But He gave them commands to live a certain way "until" He would return them to the Promised Land.  In this same passage of Scripture, while the people are living in exile, the Lord says to them "I know the plans I have for you.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future."  And so today we Christians live in this "foreign land" called earth, waiting for the Lord to return and take us to our "Promised Land" in heaven.  And so the question for us is "What are we doing while we wait?"  The song reminds us that life here can be hard and even cause our heart to tremble.  Here we are faced with toils and struggles. But we are to keep going on and sharing the good news to those around us.  We are called to be his ministers in this foreign land.  We are to carry on with singing and joy in our hearts until that day when He calls us home.  So how are you doing today in this "foreign land"?  Remember, this is not your final home. You are just "tenting" here, until then. Someday, hopefully soon, our eyes will behold that beautiful city which will be our permanent home for all eternity.  What an unspeakable joy that will be.

(1)   My heart can sing when I pause to remember

A heartache here is but a stepping stone

Along a trail that's winding always upward,

This troubled world is not my final home.

But until then my heart will go on singing,

Until then with joy I'll carry on

Until the day my eyes behold the city,

Until the day God calls me home

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(2)  The things of earth will dim and lose their value

If we recall they're borrowed for a while;

And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble,

Remembered there will only bring a smile.

But until then my heart will go on singing,

Until then with joy I'll carry on

Until the day my eyes behold the city,

Until the day God calls me home

(3)  This weary world with all its toil and struggle 

May take its toll of misery and strife;

The soul of man is like a waiting falcon; 

When it's released, it's destined for the skies.

But until then my heart will go on singing,

Until then with joy I'll carry on

Until the day my eyes behold the city,

Until the day God calls me home

Listen to it here.    LISTEN

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