Ever looking for that city above
Longing to see Him and those gone before
Who await our arrival on that heavenly shore

But till that day whence our course is full run
And we hear the glad words - My child well done
He bids us our cross never question nor shun
As he conforms us to His dear beloved Son

You see, there is more than heaven some day
For those who travel the true pilgrim way
Their greatest ambition is not streets of gold
But that through their life His story be told

One holy privilege which they’ll not be denied
To know Jesus Christ and Him crucified
They’ve presented their bodies and taken up His cross
To glorify His name at any cost

Oh, He said there'd be trials, troubles and shame
For all who'd live godly and bear His name
For those who'd embrace their appointed lot
Who'd buy the truth and sell it not

Few will understand the path you take
As a vessel of honor for my use I make
For the way you must take is the path of old
But when you come forth it shall be as pure gold

Just know you can trust in the love of my hand

But with my own blood my love I have told

Though many will say your trials are in vain
They know not that in me there is meaning in pain
The years teach much that the days never know
I do all things well - Have I not told you so?

The day draws nigh when all shadows shall pass
For now you must gaze through the dark glass
Walk not by sight but ever by faith
Until you endure to see face to face

In time, my child you will fully understand
You will then discern every print of my hand
But till then never waver nor fret nor retreat
For my way is victory disguised as defeat

Though the fig tree wear not her splendid floral suit
And the vines withhold their delicate fruit
Though the fields give not their harvest call
And there be no herds within thy stall

Greater treasures than these hast your God in store
All Love-and-Wisdom doth lead - What could you ask more?
In Christ there is strength to make the brave choice
To raise your hands in the fire and rejoice

You need not to see or to have or to hold
Just the honor of watching His will unfold
Whether we go by the stake or are slain with the sword
In this we rejoice - That our Jesus is Lord!

When in wisdom His plan He doth not tell
Simply rest in knowing He doeth all things well
Though some would have answered with a clinched fist
You proclaimed instead my faithfulness

You embraced with joy this heaven sent gift
Though Satan has desired to have you to sift
I meant it for good and in time all will see
Take courage faithful pilgrim you have glorified Me

You did not despise the least of these
And what you did unto him you did unto me
You received from my hand what I thought best
You have chosen to give and thus have been blessed

But Lord the spent days and time that was lost
What lesson could be worth such a great cost?
It seems to me no ground has been won
What has been gained in the cause of your Son?

Much my child in ways you know not
For I know of the times when the flames became hot
You did not grow weary nor did you tire
You purchased from me gold tried in the fire

For knowledge comes cheap without expense
But understanding is bought from experience
You can truly answer all who may ask
How can I fulfill this impossible task?

What He has done for me He will also for you

A Refuge for those born from above

Oh, how often we fail to see things right
We miss the blessings that come in our night
How many have cursed the gifts from God’s hand
Because they knew not His eternal plan

Step back dear one from your circumstance
You are not the pawn of impersonal chance
Though there seems to be no reason or rhyme
All shall be made plain in the fullness of time

In glory He shall come with a trump from on high
Every eye shall behold as He splits the sky
Then He’ll roll back the curtain which hid from mortal eyes
The heavenly answer to all of our whys

With Him shall come the saints of all ages
Those we have known through ink upon pages
From every nation, kindred and tongue
Throughout all ages since time begun

On that day shall the tables be turned
When the friends of this world by Christ are spurned
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
The despised vindicated and the world's darlings cursed

Tears of anguish, regret and woe
Shall then from the eyes of the wicked flow
And such as begin on that dreadful day
Shall never be lovingly wiped away

But to those who have been faithful and true
To cleave to His word in all they passed through
Shall hear the sweet voice of the One they adore
As He wipes the last tear and says ‘Weep No More’

And there with the King on that glorious day
Shall be every child not suffered to stay
We shall then be united with those gone before
Ever to be with our Savior and Lord