Recently I was going through a phase where I was very discouraged. My wife and I had been facing a number of physical challenges, including surgeries. Now we were facing more problems - they just didn't seem to end. And because of these we had to cancel a favorite vacation trip that we had looked forward to. I must admit that at times I began to question where God was in all of this. But I knew down deep that He was there and that He cared. So I sat down to listen to some old hymns and decided to play a new CD that had just arrived - "Hymns From Home" by the Collingsworth Family (see link below). And the Lord ministered to me through these old hymns which I used to sing earlier in my life. I miss them. But the one that I needed the most at that point was "Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary". I hadn't heard that one in years. It was written in 1952 by John M. Moore who was raised by godly parents and accepted Christ when he was sixteen years old. In his own words he described how this week's hymn was written.
"The company secretary of a large shipping firm telephoned the Seaman's Chapel and requested that I visit a young merchant seaman who was lying critically ill in a Glasgow hospital. After getting permission from the nursing sister, I went in to visit the young sailor. I talked for a few moments and then put my hand in my case for a tract, not knowing which one I would pull out. It happened to be a tract based on 'Pilgrim's Progress', with a color reproduction of Pilgrim coming to the cross with a great burden on his back. I showed the young seaman this picture and told him the story in brief, adding that Pilgrim's experience had been my experience too. I explained that when I came to the cross of Christ, my burden rolled away and my sense of sin and guilt before God was removed. He nodded his head when I asked him, 'Do you feel this burden on your back today?' We prayed together and never shall I forget the smile of peace and assurance that lit up his face when he said that his burden was lifted! Later that night, sitting by the fireside with paper and pen, I could not get the thought out of my mind - his burden is lifted! I started writing, but never for a moment did I imagine that this little hymn would become a favorite."
Are you carrying a burden of sin? If you are, come to the Lord and He will take it. Or are you carrying the burdens that are part of life, like I was? Then give those burdens to the Lord and experience the peace that only He can give. This song not only reminds us that our sin burden was lifted at Calvary, but it also reminds us that Jesus can do the "heavy lifting" of our other burdens. He has commanded us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us. He takes the burden and the worry and the care of those problems, and He carries them for us.
1. Days are filled with sorrow and care
Hearts are lonely and drear
Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near
Chorus:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near
2. Cast your care on Jesus today
Leave your worry and fear
Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary
Jesus is very near
Chorus:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near
3. Troubled soul, the Savior can see
Every heartache and tear
Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary
Jesus is very near
Chorus:
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near
Listen to it here CALVARY
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