Hymns With A Message: GLAD DAY

Sunday, January 22, 2017

GLAD DAY

Over the years I have often heard older believers express their hope that Jesus would return today. The older I become, the more that has become my daily hope. As our bodies wear out and as we begin to tire of the problems of this world, it is a special comfort and joy to know that Christ has promised to return to take us home to be with Him. And the words of this week's hymn should ring in our hearts and minds, "Jesus may come today, glad day!, glad day!. And I would see my Friend, dangers and troubles would end, if Jesus would come today!" That truth should stir your heart and encourage you. The hymn was written in 1910 by Henry Ostrom (1862-1941), a Methodist minister, who apparently was associated with the Moody Bible Institute starting in 1921. Little can be found about his life and I am guessing he might have been a rather quiet person because he wrote under a pseudonym because he felt freer to use his songs in evangelistic meetings if he didn't draw attention to himself as the author. This song made its first public appearance at a conference of the Siebert United Evangelical Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Some hymnals show the author as George Walter Whitcomb, Ostrom's pseudonym. I couldn't find anything about what inspired him to write this hymn, but he may have been influenced by 1 Peter 5:4, "When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." He knew that day will certainly be a glad day. And he knew that while he waited there was no need to be anxious for soon he would see Jesus, His Lord. Scripture tells us to live with this expectation. Colossians 3 says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Now some may say that fixing your heart and mind on heaven is just an escape from the painful realities of earth, but not according to the Bible. When our hearts are fixed on things above, as Joni Eareckson Tada has said, "it really, really lightens my load down here on earth. The pain and paralysis always seem to pale in comparison. That's because heaven is the place where both pain and paralysis will be in my rear view mirror. So I'm like Jesus – for the joy that was set before Him He endured His cross. And I say the same: for the joy of heaven set before me I will daily bear my cross gladly." And as the song says, there will be a crowning day when the Lord has crowns to give to his faithful ones. Now we don't know when that day may be, but as the second verse says "I may go home today!" What a blessed thought. But in the meantime, the fourth verse encourages us to be faithful today. We need to be busy telling others why we love Him so well. Are we ready and prepared if He should call us home today? If you, too, are weary and burdened with the cares of this world, then set your hope on heaven and set your heart and mind on things above, for a crown awaits you there. Remember, Jesus could come today! Glad day! Glad day!

1 Jesus may come today,

Glad day! Glad day!

And I would see my Friend;

Dangers and troubles would end

If Jesus should come today.

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

I'll live for today, nor anxious be,

Jesus my Lord I soon shall see;

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

2 I may go home today,