After seeing the poem "Face to Face" by Martha Snell Nicholson a few weeks ago, a reader asked about this hymn, so I looked it up and thought it would be interesting to post it. This is an old familiar hymn to me, but some people may not have heard it before, or just need to be reminded because of the great message.
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Face to Face
Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?
Refrain
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessèd day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.
Refrain
What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.
Refrain
Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.
Refrain
by Carrie E. Breck
Cyberhymnal.org tells us this about Mrs. Breck -
"Carrie’s family moved from Vermont to Vineland, New Jersey, and she spent most of her life in southern New Jersey. She married Frank Breck, and they moved to Oregon between 1910 and 1920. A devout Christian, she was devoted to her husband and five daughters. She had no sense of pitch, and could not carry a tune, but she had the gift of poetic rhythm, and wrote more than 2,000 poems. She was not particularly robust in health, and had to take frequent rests while doing chores. At such times, she would sit in her favorite rocking chair, take up a notebook, and write poetry, often with a baby on her knee, or playing at her feet."
Being a person myself who is "not particularly robust in health" and has to take breaks often between things, this was very encouraging and inspiring. It reminds us that we can use those many bits of time some of us are forced to take in order to keep going and use them for the glory of God. It may not be in writing. It might be in praying or in reading to the children or in communicating with other believers in the body of Christ or any number of other things. Sometimes it must be to simply rest, but not always.
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
It is also interesting to see that she could write such good poetry although she had no musical ability. This is a reminder that just because our area of ability is not the same as someone else's we should not feel deficient. The gift or talent that God has given to each of us is meant to be used for His glory in the way He intended. Comparing one ability to another is pointless and unwise.
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
DEAR SISTER: QUE EMOCION OIR ESTE HIMNO, SE LLENA DE LAGRIMAS MIS OJOS DE EMOCION. EN NUESTRA IGLESIA SE CANTA CADA TANTO, AÑOS ATRAS EL VIEJO PASTOR QUE TENIAMOS, LE GUSTABAN MUCHO LOS HIMNOS Y SIEMPRE LOS ENTONABAMOS LOS DOMINGOS, PERO HACE 6 AÑOS PARTIO CON EL SEÑOR Y EL NUEVO PASTOR QUE DIRIJE LA IGLESIA, ES UN POCO MAS JOVEN, Y LE GUSTA MAS LA NUEVA MODA EN CANCIONES CRISTIANAS, GRUPOS NUEVOS, SOLISTAS, UN POCO DE MUSICA RUIDOSA, EN LO PERSONAL MUCHO NO ME GUSTA, PREFIERO LOS HIMNOS Y SALMOS, PERO BUENO, ASI ESTAN LAS COSAS EN LA ACTUALIDAD, HACE 20 AÑOS QUE NOS CONGREGAMOS AHI, ESTOY PENSANDO EN CAMBIAR DE IGLESIA, PERO MI ESPOSO NO ESTA DE ACUERDO CON ESTO, EL DICE QUE NO SIENTE EN CAMBIAR, A VECES TENEMOS NUESTRAS DIFERENCIAS AL RESPECTO, Y SI BIEN SE PREDICA LA VERDAD SOBRE LA PALABRA DE DIOS, SOLO LA BIBLIA, Y EN ESO HACEMOS ENFASIS, QUE HOY HAY MUCHOS FALSOS PREDICADORES, QUE SE LLENAN LOS BOLSILLOS CON EL DIEZMO, O INVENTAN PALABRAS O MIENTEN ACERCA DE LA VERDAD ESCRITA EN LA BIBLIA, POR ESOS SEGUIMOS CONGREGANDONOS EN EL MISMO LUGAR, PERO YO DEBO SEGUIRLO A EL, YA QUE ES LA CABEZA DEL HOGAR. GRACIAS POR PUBLICAR SOBRE ESTE HIMNO, QUE HERMOSO SERA ESE GLORIOSO DIA EN QUE LE VEAMOS CARA A CARA, LOS PELIGROS CESARAN, Y DISFRUTAREMOS POR TODA LA ETERNIDAD CONTEMPLANDO SU HERMOSURA Y ALABANDO SU SANTO NOMBRE.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad this was such a blessing to you! I also love the old hymns very much. I am thankful that we still sing them at our church.
DeleteIt is true, there is much false teaching these days. Much is done for the purpose of making money from the tithes and offerings. This is sad and is to be avoided.
Thank you for asking about this hymn. I enjoyed sharing it and learning more about the lady who wrote the poem. It will be a wonderful day to see Jesus face to face.