Abide With Me

Dr. John Currid, pastor of Ballantyne Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, gives an interesting account of Scottish pastor Henry F. Lyte. Lyte ministered in the first half of the 19th Century and died in 1847. Plagued by health problems, he was barely able to preach his last sermon. He later died on his way to Italy to try to recover. Shortly before that last service at his church he wrote the words to one of my favorite hymns, “Abide with Me.” Lyte may have known that his time was approaching.

Regardless of how much theological education the Lord in His grace allows us to obtain, or how much success He allows us to see, we never get away from the simple, yet profound good news of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In fact I have found that the Gospel “ripens” with age (my age, that is). While I don’t consider myself old, I’m definitely older and closer to my salvation than when I first believed (Romans 13:11). And the good news seems more real and precious to me now than when I was younger. Then I looked forward to all the opportunities I might have to serve the Lord and daydreamed about how all that would turn out. Having seen so much of myself through the years, I now have come to treasure Christ more and to cling to His finished work and His promises.

If the circumstances of my departure allow me to suspect that the time is drawing near, I hope my attitude will be like that exemplified by Lyte in his wonderful hymn. I especially like the third and last verses. May we all be edified by his expression of faith.

Abide with Me
Henry F. Lyte

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.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
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;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

[To listen to the tune for "Abide with Me" and to read a brief account of the writing of this tune and hymn, visit The Cyber Hymnal.]

Abide With Me