First, An elderly gentleman walked slowly as he left the evening worship. He had listened as the congregation sang, "O God Our Help in Ages Past." He took my hand and spoke with tears in his eyes.
"That hymn is all I need; it tells me all that I need to know about God."
As this man neared the close of his life, he bore witness to the way he had been surrounded by these strong words of assurance. The words of this hymn continued to proclaim a God whose love and care had the filled the past and stretched into the ages to come. Amid the many uncertainties of life the good news had been proclaimed in a bold and beautiful way. Second, then consider the following story about a father asking his son a very important question. | "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home. Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure, sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame; from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same. A thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all our years away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op'ning day. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, still be our guard while troubles last and our eternal home. |