[051]. Message From A Poem – Convention Hymn – From The Old To The New

[051]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CONVENTION HYMN (WRITTEN THEN) – FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW

This was written during the Easter Keswick Convention at Atherton on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland, in the spare time I had there with all the organisation to do. These Conventions are always a great time of teaching and fellowship. For the Australians who see this, this Atherton Convention is the same as Mount Tambourine, Katoomba, and Belgrave Heights.

I wanted to make it into a hymn and it is constructed that way. The whole poem is centred around the Christian life and experience. I wanted it to be uplifting and to glorify the Lord. The 4 stanzas can be described this way:

STANZA 1 = THE OLD

STANZA 2 = THE NEW

STANZA 3 = THE LIFE

STANZA 4 = THE HOPE

It can be sung even though some might think it is out-dated with all this modern stuff around, the 11 words repeated 7 times (you know what I mean).

If you look at the Stanza themes, The Old was what prevailed before conversion. The New is the converted person in Jesus Christ. The Life is living as a Christian in the world as a witness for the Lord. The Hope is the expectation of our eternal home, glorious and in the Lord’s presence.

THE OLD - {{Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were DEAD IN THE TRESPASSES AND SINS in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRath, like the rest of mankind.”}} (ESV)

THE NEW – {{2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is A NEW CREATURE. The old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”}}

THE LIFE – {{Romans 13:11-14 “This do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep, for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. LET US BEHAVE PROPERLY AS IN THE DAY, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy, but PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”}}

THE HOPE – {{Philippians 3:20-21 “Our citizenship is in heaven from which also WE EAGERLY WAIT FOR A SAVIOUR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”}}

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CONVENTION HYMN (WRITTEN THEN) – THE CHRISTIAN BEFORE GOD

Mankind had become lost, without saving hope.

Much too deep sin’s chasm; far too steep the slope.

Far too wide to bridge it; far too high to cross.

All remained in ruin. All was grief and loss.

From God separated; hopeless sons of earth;

Waiting for redemption; craving our new birth.

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Lifted from the mire; feet upon the Rock.

Joined to God Almighty; members of His flock.

Taken from our failure; taken from distress.

Added to His bounty; trophies of success.

Thank Him - God Almighty; Praise You Precious Son.

You have wrought salvation. You have vict’ry won.

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Soldiers in His army; conquer through His sword.

Runners in the challenge; victors with the Lord.

Servants of the Master; subjects of the King.

Psalmists of His glories; praise to Him will bring.

Now we live as pilgrims; day by day below,

Shining forth for Jesus, with the Spirit’s glow.

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Looking for a city; God its Maker is.

Waiting for His welcome; for that smile of His.

Listening for the trumpet; for that summons call.

Holding our profession; Christ is all in all.

Yes, we’ll go to meet Him; in that place so fair.

Jesus Christ, our Saviour; He is waiting there.

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2 - 5 April 1999 R Ferguson 11-11-11-11-11-11 4 x 6/5 D

Written during the Easter Keswick Convention at Atherton.

Best tune is Armageddon - “Who is on the Lord’s Side”

Also Wye Valley - “Like a River Glorious” and “Stayed Upon Jehovah”

STANZA 1 = THE OLD

STANZA 2 = THE NEW

STANZA 3 = THE LIFE

STANZA 4 = THE HOPE