Sunday, September 29,
2013 pm
SERMONS FROM SONGS
“Alone at Eve”
#450, Sacred Selections
He composed the music for many songs, of which “Alone at Eve”
is perhaps his best known.
Other songs he composed include: “In Remembrance”, the arrangement in
our book of “Angry words” and another hymn entitled, “There’s A Home for
the Soul.”
Slater was a preacher of the gospel who held Gospel meetings
in some 20 states. In August
of 1959, Bro. Slater was preaching a gospel meeting in Crystal Springs,
Arkansas. His custom
after a sermon was to invite people to stay and sing some hymns
together. On August 22, he
was asked to lead a song, “This is Someone’s Last Day.”
He took the opportunity to tell people of the significance of
that message. Afterward, he
was a guest in the home of one of the brethren, as he was preparing for
bed he felt ill and asked for a doctor.
He died that night en route to a hospital in Hot Springs, AR.
The song is about one who is living this life looking forward
to a home in heaven when this life is over.
It is descriptive of one who thinks often of what heaven will be
like and uses that as motivation to secure his place there.
a.
Alone at eve – that “quiet time” we need every once in a while.
This is a song about contemplation – something that Christians ought to
consider from time to time.
We need to take time to think about spiritual matters.
To consider what awaits us when this life is over if we remain
faithful to Him.
b.
“Viewing the skies afar”
– in this expression I see God’s creation – as we consider the heavens
we see the handiwork of God. Psalm 19:1 speaks of the heavens declaring
His glory.
As to bidding the darkness
come and welcoming the stars – we are reminded of a sunset and the
beauty of such.
c.
“I have a great delight in the wonderful scenes above” –
FIRST, they are “wonderful.”
SECOND, as we contemplate the abode of our heavenly father, we think
“beyond the sunset” to that spiritual realm.
While we don’t know exactly where heaven is (geographically), it
IS called heaven.
Psalm 2:4 speaks of “He who sits
in the heavens shall laugh”.
Isa. 40:22 says, “It is he who sits above the circle of the
earth…”
Hebrews 11:16 says that God has prepared a heavenly country for His
people.
THIRD, I think of the beauties that describe heaven.
How beautiful heaven must be.
John 14:1-3 speaks of mansions prepared for His disciples.
The book of Revelation gives us a picture of what heaven is like, though
we must understand that what John saw was a vision.
Nevertheless, we find that which emanates from heaven.
Revelation 4 describes the awesome throne of God in heaven.
Revelation 21:9-21 describes “the
great city, the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.”
It is further described in that chapter as a place where there
will be no more tears, sorrow, death or crying, or pain (21:4).
God will be there and illuminate it with His own light.
Heaven is the place where “the tree of life is blooming”, “the roses
never fade” and where our treasures that we lay up are found (Matt.
6:21).
IN the descriptions we have of heaven, I see a place so incredible that
words cannot describe it.
But what we have recorded is a glimpse of its glory.
NO WONDER we delight in the scenes above!
d.
God in His power and
might is showing His truth and love –
i.
He demonstrates His
power by taking care of His creation.
His provisions for us demonstrate His love.
His laws which man cannot change demonstrate His power.
ii.
As He takes care of
creation, He can take care of us as well.
iii.
In this expression I
also think of our salvation.
I think of how God so loved the world He gave Jesus to die for us (John
3:16, Rom. 5:6-8). And He
did this so that He could provide an eternal home in His presence for
us.
“But as it is written: “Eye has
not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The
things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”” (1
Corinthians 2:9)
e.
With faith in God we
ought to frequently think about what awaits us beyond this life.
a.
Sitting alone at eve and dreaming the hours away,
– while we should not
“waste” our time continually daydreaming (Eph. 5:15-16), there are times
when we can and should contemplate.
I believe there are times we ought to just stop and think!
Remove as many worldly distractions as possible (clutter and
business) and think about heaven.
Phil. 4:8 speaks of the types of things we ought to meditate on.
2 Cor. 4:16-5:7 describes our groaning to be further clothed for
eternity with Him. It
is a text that describes contemplating about these things.
b.
Watching the shadows
falling now at the close of day
- as I see the sunset I see a God who is in control.
Everything proceeds as He wills.
He spoke this world into existence and sustains it by His very
words. (2 Pet. 3:5-7)
Friends, as surely as I can watch the sunset and the stars appear in the
heavens, and seasons and years, etc.
I can know that God is in control!
There is a time coming when His will shall be brought to its
completion. In fact, as you
continue to read 2 Peter 3 you find there will be a day when the heavens
will melt away. AFTER that
we look forward to a new heavens and a new earth (3:10-13).
c.
God in His mercy comes, with His word He is drawing near, spreading His
love and truth around me and everywhere. First, He
IS a God of mercy (Luke 1:78, Rom. 9:16, Eph. 2:4, 2 Cor. 1:3, 1 Pet.
1:3, etc.).
THROUGH His Word He has revealed to us all that we need. (2 Pet. 1:2-4)
WE know of His plans for our
redemption, how to achieve those plans, how to live pleasing Him, the
reward that awaits us if we will endure.
Acts 20:32, as Paul concludes his remarks to the Ephesian elders he
gives this truth, “So now,
brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is
able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.”
WE learn of His love and truth through studying His word (2 Tim. 2:15,
3:16-17).
John 17:17 tells us His word IS truth!
It is the one way we get to know Him better.
1 John 2:3-5 also tells us that the way we know Him is by keeping His
commandments.
His truth is NOT exclusively for me!
It is for all of mankind (Rom. 1:16) – I cannot help but see in
this song a calling for me to share His word with others (Matt.
28:19-20).
a.
Closing my eyes at even and thinking of heaven’s grace
– as our day winds down and we pillow our heads, are we thinking about
our hope of heaven? What a
way to end the day. As we
prepare to sleep it is a good time to say a prayer of gratitude for the
day we have been given and if anything is amiss in our lives, let us
take care of it – asking for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
b.
Longing to see my Lord,
yes meeting Him face to face – while we might not want to think about this, WHAT IF we do not wake up!
Do we sleep with confidence that if we do not awake, we will be
with the Lord? Are we ready for that?
I am reminded of Paul’s attitude in Philippians 1:21-23 where he
desired to depart and be with the Lord.
He said, to die is gain, but to live is Christ.
c.
Trusting Him as my all, wheresoever my footsteps roam
– again we see a confident hope that no matter what happens, it will be
ok! If we are permitted
another day, we will live it for Him. “according to my earnest
expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all
boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)
Do you trust Him? Psalm 4:4–5, “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate
within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of
righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.”
d.
Pleading with Him to
guide me onto the Spirit’s home
– in this expression, I see prayer.
In vs. 2 of this song I see God’s word as it influences us.
Here I see prayer.
Eph. 5:16 tells us that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
abides much. 1 Thess.
5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.”
AS we study God’s word we know that His guidance is NOT a direct
indwelling, but rather through His word.
But we can ask for His help (cf. James 1:5)
a.
In the chorus we find a
number of descriptions associated with heaven itself.
This is what we are looking forward to.
b.
A home with God
– in heaven we will finally be in His presence.
John 14:3. 1 Thess.
4:17 speaks of us being with the Lord “in the air” forever.
Revelation 21:3, 22-23, “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or
of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The
Lamb is its light.” (see also Rev. 22:3-5).
c.
A place in His courts to rest – our own place (the mansion) – 1 John 14:2-3, Heb. 11:16,
Heb. 13:14, “For
here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.”
d.
Sure in a safe abode
with Jesus and the blest
– it will be a place of safety.
No fears. He will be
there with the Father as we have already seen.
Matt. 6:19-21 describes it as a place where moth and rust do NOT
destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal.
Rev. 21:27 says that NOTHING that defiles will enter that place.
e.
Rest for a weary soul
– one of the great qualities of heaven, a place of rest.
That final rest.
Hebrews 4:9, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”
2 Thessalonians 1:6–7, “since it is a righteous thing with God to
repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are
troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with
His mighty angels,” (, NKJV)
f.
Once redeemed by the Savior’s love
– those who are there will be there because of our
Redeemer. Heaven is
the home of the saved. Revelation
14:13 “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write:
‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says
the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works
follow them.””
Rom. 10:13 says that whoever calls one the name of the Lord will be
saved. See Acts 22:16 for
HOW that is accomplished.
g.
Where I’ll be pure and whole and live with my God above
– as we have already seen, nothing that defiles will enter.
It has been said that when you have been invited to someone’s
home for dinner, if they say, “Keep your fork!” it usually means that
something better awaits – dessert!
Friends, while on this earth we feast on the word of God and the
many blessings He has afforded us here.
But the blessings of this life pale in comparison to what awaits
us when this life is over.
This song, in poetic language, reminds us of what awaits us on
the other side and how we need to think about that every once in a while
her upon earth. May we
strive to enter that heavenly home, seeking to please Him lest we fall
short (1 Cor. 9:27).