Dear friends,
After my devotion this morning, i was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write something on this very important topic: *When the Roll is called up yonder.*
This is a popular Hymn written by James M. Black the president of a certain Young People’s Society who was once chanced to meet a girl of fourteen, poorly dressed and a drunkard’s daughter, whom he invited to join the Society and to attend Sunday School.
She did this, and attended for a time, but one evening at a dedication meeting, when the Society’s roll of members was called, and each member responded with a text, there was no response from this girl.
Remarking on her absence, the president, Mr. J. M. Black, spoke of the shyness of anyone being absent when the names were called of those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and then added the prayer, “O God, when my own name is called up yonder, may I be there to respond!”
Wanting something suitable to sing on this occasion, Mr.
Black searched the hymn book, but could find nothing, and after the meeting was ended, on his way home he still kept wishing for such a hymn.
On reaching home the words of the first stanza of a new hymn came to his mind in full. Within fifteen minutes the two following verses were also written down, and then Mr. Black turned to the piano. “I played the music,” he said, “just as it is found today in the hymn books, note for note, and I have never dared to change a single word or note of the song.”
What an inspiring story!
After my devotion this morning, i was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write something on this very important topic: *When the Roll is called up yonder.*
This is a popular Hymn written by James M. Black the president of a certain Young People’s Society who was once chanced to meet a girl of fourteen, poorly dressed and a drunkard’s daughter, whom he invited to join the Society and to attend Sunday School.
She did this, and attended for a time, but one evening at a dedication meeting, when the Society’s roll of members was called, and each member responded with a text, there was no response from this girl.
Remarking on her absence, the president, Mr. J. M. Black, spoke of the shyness of anyone being absent when the names were called of those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and then added the prayer, “O God, when my own name is called up yonder, may I be there to respond!”
Wanting something suitable to sing on this occasion, Mr.
Black searched the hymn book, but could find nothing, and after the meeting was ended, on his way home he still kept wishing for such a hymn.
On reaching home the words of the first stanza of a new hymn came to his mind in full. Within fifteen minutes the two following verses were also written down, and then Mr. Black turned to the piano. “I played the music,” he said, “just as it is found today in the hymn books, note for note, and I have never dared to change a single word or note of the song.”
What an inspiring story!
To everything in life, there is a time. A time when we will be born. A time when we will turn adult. A time when we will marry. A time when we will die.
Let us also remember that a time is coming when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound. When all that have been said had been done.
Hmmmm! At least now we have the right to use our time anyhow in the way we like. Some of us can even afford to use our time to gossip, fornicate, lie and on some other ephemeral things. I wish we all know a time is coming when time itself shall be no more. A time we would wish to change from our old ways of life and sinful ways but it won't be possible any longer. We would wish to serve God with all our heart but it won't be possible again because the end would have come.
Just as it is in any academic Institution where records of students names are kept and on regular occasion attendance register are being marked so will it be on the last day when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound.
I could remember during my days in the University how we use to take the issue of attendance very serious because it carries marks and it is of great significance and use to the Staff and management.
At times we go to class purposely to mark the attendance register but to our surprise our lecturers won't even say anything about it throughout the lecture as if he/she knew our mind. If these persist for some time, we might decide to stay back from lectures a day knowing within us that the attendance will not be marked. But unfortunately for us, the lecturers whom at times are good mind readers would take the attendance that day we decided to absent ourselves from class. What a pity. What a marks we have missed.
Hmmm.... Had we known, we would have waited but impatience, distractions and the love of games and pleasures more than class cost us our mark.
The hour and the time that the attendance will be marked is only known by the lecturer and God the all-knowing. It might be marked at the last lecture in the semester or at times at the first or Middle lecture in the semester.
So it is all about our consistency and not about our inconsistency.
Though, we might not really feel the impact of the missing mark in our overall result due to our performance in the examination in the analogy used above but the reverse would be the case when the roll of God is called up yonder and we are not present. We can't make it up.
That you have been a christian for 100 years will not make you meet up with the roll when it is been called, what will make you meet up is your consistency in the pursuance of the Kingdom of God.
Don't allow that distractions, don't allow that sin and pleasure to draw you back.
Determine to follow him consistently today and He will help you.
I will like us to also remember that only qualified and admitted students would have their names on the register of the University. So also will it be on the register of God. Only the names of those that are saved would be on the Lamb's book of life. The painful thing about this is that some can be on this list and yet miss out when the roll is being called up yonder. Therefore the need to emphasize on the word consistency once again.
You might have been reading this story from the top to the bottom. Know this that only those who have accepted and believe Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and are working according to his precept and direction will have their names on the book of life.
You might have been praying, thinking asking if indeed your name is on the book of life by now. Don't think too much, don't procrastinate. Take a step of faith now and confess your sins to God and ask him to write your name in His book of life because a time will come you will be crying for salvation but you won't see it.
Now is the time to cry. I mean a great cry. Cry a great deal till your name is written on the Lamb's book of life.
Let us also remember that a time is coming when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound. When all that have been said had been done.
Hmmmm! At least now we have the right to use our time anyhow in the way we like. Some of us can even afford to use our time to gossip, fornicate, lie and on some other ephemeral things. I wish we all know a time is coming when time itself shall be no more. A time we would wish to change from our old ways of life and sinful ways but it won't be possible any longer. We would wish to serve God with all our heart but it won't be possible again because the end would have come.
Just as it is in any academic Institution where records of students names are kept and on regular occasion attendance register are being marked so will it be on the last day when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound.
I could remember during my days in the University how we use to take the issue of attendance very serious because it carries marks and it is of great significance and use to the Staff and management.
At times we go to class purposely to mark the attendance register but to our surprise our lecturers won't even say anything about it throughout the lecture as if he/she knew our mind. If these persist for some time, we might decide to stay back from lectures a day knowing within us that the attendance will not be marked. But unfortunately for us, the lecturers whom at times are good mind readers would take the attendance that day we decided to absent ourselves from class. What a pity. What a marks we have missed.
Hmmm.... Had we known, we would have waited but impatience, distractions and the love of games and pleasures more than class cost us our mark.
The hour and the time that the attendance will be marked is only known by the lecturer and God the all-knowing. It might be marked at the last lecture in the semester or at times at the first or Middle lecture in the semester.
So it is all about our consistency and not about our inconsistency.
Though, we might not really feel the impact of the missing mark in our overall result due to our performance in the examination in the analogy used above but the reverse would be the case when the roll of God is called up yonder and we are not present. We can't make it up.
That you have been a christian for 100 years will not make you meet up with the roll when it is been called, what will make you meet up is your consistency in the pursuance of the Kingdom of God.
Don't allow that distractions, don't allow that sin and pleasure to draw you back.
Determine to follow him consistently today and He will help you.
I will like us to also remember that only qualified and admitted students would have their names on the register of the University. So also will it be on the register of God. Only the names of those that are saved would be on the Lamb's book of life. The painful thing about this is that some can be on this list and yet miss out when the roll is being called up yonder. Therefore the need to emphasize on the word consistency once again.
You might have been reading this story from the top to the bottom. Know this that only those who have accepted and believe Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and are working according to his precept and direction will have their names on the book of life.
You might have been praying, thinking asking if indeed your name is on the book of life by now. Don't think too much, don't procrastinate. Take a step of faith now and confess your sins to God and ask him to write your name in His book of life because a time will come you will be crying for salvation but you won't see it.
Now is the time to cry. I mean a great cry. Cry a great deal till your name is written on the Lamb's book of life.
Remember, Heaven is a place we must not miss.
God bless you.
Share with a friend if it has blessed your life.
I am your loyal Servant;
Olakunle.
07063403997.
Olakunle.
07063403997.
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