I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the in-between hymns.
Today’s song is Soon and Very Soon from 1976.
I do remember singing this one in charismatic fellowships back in the early 1980s. We sung a simple, fast version of it with acoustic guitars. I only later discovered that it was an Andraé Crouch song. I don’t know if it was written as a hymn to be sung by congregations, but it did find its way into churches – even some traditional churches.
It’s based on the New Testament emphasis on Jesus coming soon. 2000 years seems a long time to wait. Of course, the Hebrews were promised the Messiah early in the Old Testament, and that was a long time coming too. But in relation to eternity, 1000s of years is nothing. And Peter touched on that in one of his epistles:
2 Peter 3:8-9
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The end times raises many questions, as does this verse. If some end up in hell, doesn’t waiting longer mean more people will end up in hell in addition to more people ending up in heaven? But I trust that God knows what He’s doing. Maybe there are always some who are on their way to true faith, and Jesus will only return when all who are going to believe come to faith.
I think the reason for the emphasis on the return of Jesus is that God wants us to primarily have the church look to the second coming of Jesus rather than individually dying and being with Christ. Verses on both do appear in the New Testament, but looking to the return of Jesus predominates. And even when we go to be with Christ individually, we’ll probably be still looking forward to that great future event.
Here’s a section about dying and going to be with Christ – written by the Apostle Paul:
Philippians 1:21-24
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
And here’s a section about the return of Christ:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Paul wrote these words, but he was always honest about his own struggles. Like many of us, life in this world was sometimes a bit much for him. So though he desired to escape to Jesus, he was happy to carry on working for as long as God required it of him. But ultimately, he looks to the second coming of Jesus, when everything will be fixed for all believers – no more crying and no more dying.
One way or the other, if we truly believe, we will see the king soon, whether we die first or Jesus returns first.
Here are some other versions of today’s hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 