July 26, 2005

Have faith in God –
To see and know His way;
Have faith in God –
To read and work and pray;
Have faith in God –
To do the good we may.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

He the Pearly Gates Will Open

Fredrick Arvid Blom, 1867-1927

    However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.

    Out of the repentant heart of a back-slidden Swedish pastor came this deeply emotional and vividly worded hymn, which expresses his renewed faith in God. After serving as the minister of several churches, Fredrick Arvid Blom somehow chose to live a life of deep sin and even was in prison for a time. "I drifted from God," he explained, "and became embittered with myself, the world, and not the least with ministers who looked on me with suspicion because I was a member of the Socialist Party." Then like a "dove when hunted" or a "wounded fawn", Blom cried out in anguish to his heavenly Father, Who in "love divine" forgave him and healed his broken heart and life. From this restoration came this lovely text which has since comforted many sorrowful hearts with the assurance of a never-ending divine love and a promise of an eternal heavenly Home.

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
Deep and mighty, pure sublime!
Coming from the heart of Jesus,
Just the same through tests of time.

Like a dove when hunted, frightened,
As a wounded fawn was I;
Brokenhearted, yet He healed me,
He will heed the sinner’s cry.

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
All my sins He then forgave!
I will sing His praise forever,
For His blood, His power to save.

In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At His door I’ll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus
I shall enter Heaven’s gate.

Chorus:
He the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For He purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.

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