SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER?

          When I was growing up it was quite common for folks to start choruses during prayer meetings.  I remember so well that one of them that was sung almost every week was "I've a longing in my heart for Jesus,  I've a longing in my heart to see His face. I am weary, O so weary, of traveling here below, I've a longing in my heart for Him."  Now as a youngster I can't say that I had a longing each day to go to heaven.  There was too much that I wanted to do first here on earth.  But as I've grown older and I can begin to relate to the earnestness with which these believers sang this chorus each week.  As I experience the toils of life personally, as I see the sad state of this world, and as I see my family and friends move to heaven, this longing for heaven and seeing Jesus grows within me.  Is this your experience as well?  And I have come to appreciate the songs, like this week's  hymn choice, that share that longing and hope of heaven and seeing Jesus face to face.  Now I don't know much about the river in heaven except that John saw it and wrote of it in Revelation 22:1-2. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."  It must be a beautiful sight.  But, more importantly, it will be a place where we are not only reunited with loved ones and friends, but also with our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  And here we will eternally worship and praise the triune God.  The author of this hymn was Robert Lowry.  And here is what he said about it. "One afternoon in July, 1864, when I was pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was lying on a lounge in a state of physical exhaustion … My imagination began to take itself wings. Visions of the future passed before me with startling vividness. The imagery of the apocalypse took the form of a tableau. Brightest of all were the throne, the heavenly river, and the gathering of the saints … I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the "river of death" and so little about the "pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb." As I mused, the words began to construct themselves. They came first as a question of Christian inquiry, "Shall we gather?" Then they broke in chorus, "Yes, we'll gather." On this question and answer the hymn developed itself. The music came with the hymn."  Shall We Gather at the River, also known as The River, has become a favorite song of camp meetings, water baptismal services and funerals. It was sung at the funeral of American Supreme Court Justice William Douglas, and in two Academy Award Winning Hollywood movies: Trip to Bountiful (1986), and Three Godfathers (1916). Do you have a longing in your heart for heaven?  A longing to see Jesus?  Remember, this earth is not our home.  We are but pilgrims here moving to a promised land.  May we not get so attached to the things of this world that we lose the hope of heaven.  Oh that the Lord might return today!  He could, so let us live each day with that hope and expectation.  Will I see you at that river that flows by the throne of God?

(1)     Shall we gather at the river,

Where bright angel feet have trod,

With its crystal tide forever

Flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

(2)     On the margin of the river,

Washing up its silver spray,

We will talk and worship ever,

All the happy golden day.

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

(3)    Ere we reach the shining river,

Lay we every burden down;

Grace our spirits will deliver,

And provide a robe and crown.

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

(4)     At the smiling of the river,

Mirror of the Savior's face,

Saints, whom death will never sever,

Lift their songs of saving grace.

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

(5)    Soon we'll reach the silver river,

Soon our pilgrimage will cease;

Soon our happy hearts will quiver

With the melody of peace.

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN