HEAVEN CAME DOWN AND GLORY FILLED MY SOUL

         The vast majority of the songs that this blog has featured over the years have been written a century or two ago.  It is unusual to feature a song that has been written in this blogger's lifetime.  In was in the early 60's that my future wife and I began to sing duets and one of the very first that we sang was a newly published song, "Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul".  Little did we realize then that this new song was inspired by a testimony given at Montrose Bible Conference, in Montrose, Pennsylvania, which is just a few hours from where we lived at that time.  It was during the summer of 1961 that John W. Peterson was a guest there.  According to Peterson, "During one of the sessions an opportunity for a time of personal testimonies was given the audience, and Old Jim rose to his feet and told of his conversion experience. In describing that night when he met Christ, he used the phrase 'It seemed like Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.'   Right away I sensed that it would be a fine title for a song, so I wrote it down and later in the week completed the song. It became a favorite almost immediately."  Personally, I am always amazed at how quickly various gospel songs have been written.  But Peterson (1921 - 2006) did this often.  He was a songwriter who had a major influence on evangelical Christian music in the 1950s through the 1970s, writing over 1000 songs, and 35 cantatas that have sold more than three million copies.  And the song that was born that day in 1961 has blessed the hearts of people all over America as well as on mission fields worldwide. The song reminds us of that amazing conversion experience when Jesus met the need of our heart and lives, making the darkness in our lives depart.  Because of that experience our sins were taken away, as far as the east is from the west, and our night was turned to day.  The song also speaks of our justification, our standing, and our amazing future, all made possible because of what happened to us and in us that wonderful day.  If this has been your experience and your testimony then you too should be singing this song each day.  Truly, for each believer, because of what happened that day as a result of the Cross, heaven did come down and glory did fill our soul!  May we never forget to celebrate the result of God's mercy and grace to us.

             

(1) O what a wonderful, wonderful day-

Day I will never forget;

After I'd wandered in darkness away,

Jesus my Savior I met.

O what a tender, compassionate friend-

He met the need of my heart;

Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling,

He made all the darkness depart!

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross

the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away

And my night was turned to day-

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul!

      

(2) Born of the Spirit with life from above

Into God's family divine,

Justified fully through Calvary's love,

O what a standing is mine!

And the transaction so quickly was made

When as a sinner I came,

Took of the offer Of grace He did proffer-

He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross

the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away

And my night was turned to day-

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul!

      

(3) Now I've a hope that will surely endure

After the passing of time;

I have a future in heaven for sure.

There in those mansions sublime.

And its because of that wonderful day

What at the cross I believed;

Riches eternal And blessings supernal

From His precious hand I received.

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross

the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away

And my night was turned to day-

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul!

You can listen to it being sung by a group of men right here.   LISTEN