HEAVENLY LIGHT -- AND -- HENRY LYTE
Compiled & Written By Duane V. Maxey
TEXT and INTRODUCTION
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have THE LIGHT OF LIFE" (John 8:12).
Christ Jesus, our HEAVENLY LIGHT is known for WHO He is, for WHAT He said and still says, and for WHAT He did and is still doing. Henry Lyte is known today by the poetic lines that he wrote.
Henry Francis Lyte was a Scottish minister, and a prolific hymn-writer, and poet. He was born June 1, 1793 and died on November 20, 1847, at the age of 54. In 1817 Lyte met and married Anne Maxwell, a "keen Methodist." Suffering from a respiratory problem quite constantly (one source identified it as tuberculosis), Lyte was in poor health throughout most of his life. In 1844 his health finally gave way, and it was following his last service, after watching a sun-set, that he penned his most famous hymn, "Abide With Me." Lyte died just two weeks later in 1847, in Nice, southern France, and was buried there.
In presenting the following three of his many poems, I intentionally make no mention of Lyte's Doctrinal Leanings, desiring instead to emphasize his Divine Leanings -- i.e., toward our Beloved Savior, The Light of the World. Following each of his three poems below, I have written some of my own comments. -- Duane V. Maxey, Friday, November 13, 2015.
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THERE IS A SAFE AND SECRET PLACE
There is a safe and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace;
O be that refuge mine!
The least and feeblest there may bide,
Uninjured and unawed;
While thousands fall on every side,
He rests secure in God.
He feeds in pastures, large and fair,
Of love and truth divine,
O child of God, O glory's heir,
How rich a lot is thine!
A Hand Almighty to defend,
An ear for every call,
An honored life, a peaceful end,
And heaven to crown it all!
Here we have a beautiful word picture of the blessings that belong to all of Christ's True Followers. I would, however, mention that all which the poet says are "reserved for the heirs of grace," is ours, not because we were foreordained to inherit it all, completely apart from any willing obedience and faith on our part. It is, rather, ours as the result of repenting of all sin, trusting in Jesus' shed blood in our behalf, that we may remain "heirs of grace." After one is saved, it is only by continuing to obey and follow Him unto the end of life's probation that we become Eternally Secure. This said, I am happy to have the assurance just now that I AM one of the blessed "heirs of grace," and I am looking forward to "Heaven to crown it all." Hallelujah!
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JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN
Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I've sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still mine own.
Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, "Abba, Father"; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.
Man may trouble and distress me, 'twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.
Take, my soul, thy full salvation; rise o'er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father's smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?
Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heaven's eternal day's before thee, God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.
ETERNAL PRAISE be to Christ Jesus, our HEAVENLY LIGHT, for the truths above in the lines of HENRY LYTE!
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ABIDE WITH ME
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
* * * * * * *
IN CONCLUSION
Thus wrote Henry Francis Lyte, following his final church service, after watching a sun-set, just two weeks before he died in 1847. He knew his earthly days would soon end:--
"ABIDE WITH ME, FAST FALLS THE EVEN TIDE,
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide...
"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O THOU WHO CHANGEST NOT, ABIDE WITH ME."
This, has been, and still is, the heart-cry of untold millions as they realize their life in this world shall soon be o'er. Nothing else matters but having the deep assurance that Christ abides within, as we begin to pass through "the valley of the shadow of death." Then it is, if we have "kept the faith," that we can say with the Psalmist, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL: FOR THOU ART WITH ME; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
"As we trust and obey Thee, our HEAVENLY LIGHT, when that time comes for each of us, MAKE IT SO, LORD! MAKE IT SO! Our Dear Lord Jesus, this we ask in Thy Loving and Wonderful Name, Amen." -- Duane V. Maxey, November 13, 2015.
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