July 23, 2005

Have faith in God –
No need of wings;
Have faith in God –
The glad heart sings;
Have faith in God –
All joy it brings.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

O That Will be Glory

Words and Music by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, 1856-1932

    Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:1-4.

Think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God's hand,
Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air;
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality,
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm,
Of waking up, and finding it Home!
Author Unknown

    The text for O That Will Be Glory was inspired for author and composer by his good friend Ed Card, superintendent of the Sunshine Rescue Mission of St. Louis, Missouri. Ed was a radiant believer who always seemed to be bubbling over with the joy of the Lord. During a sermon or prayer, he would often explode with the expression, "Glory!" Ed Card's smiling face earned him the nickname "Old Glory Face". It was his custom to close his own praying with a reference to heaven, ending with the phrase "and that will be glory for me!" It is said that Mr. Card had the joy of singing this hymn just before his home-going -- with the pleasure of knowing that his Christian life had been its inspiration.
    Charles H. Gabriel was one of the best-known and most prolific gospel songwriters of the early 20th Century era. For most of his hymns, Gabriel wrote and composed both the words and music. His gospel songs were especially used during the large Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns of the 1910-1920 decade. O That Will Be Glory has been translated into many languages and dialects to be sung around the globe.

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will flow;
Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Chorus:
O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission