And Can It Be?

 #363 “And Can it Be?”

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me! ~ Charles Wesley 1738

Today I feel weighed down by sorrow for my bride, my children, grandchildren, their aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends, as my father-in-law, Sam Hopper, will soon join the saints in Heaven. I gladly shoulder as much of their grief as possible as we celebrate and mourn a man I admire and love, too. Sam’s Christian faith played an important role in my spiritual development many years ago, for which “I’m forever grateful” - that was the theme song of the retreat he led and I attended. Under his direction, many men, including me, awakened to a broader understanding of God’s amazing love and life-changing Spirit. Since then, my spiritual journey went in a direction Sam could not have imagined, but he remained supportive of my calling and seemed to love the way his daughter and grandchildren traveled with me toward a Methodist way of worshiping and serving Christ.  

 While we grieve and reminisce, my Methodist way reminds me of a magnificent hymn by Charles Wesley, “And Can It Be?” Please join me in reading the words as if from a journal by a born-again disciple of Christ. Let the punctuation bring added emphasis as you feel the astonishment and the humble adoration of a repentant and justified Christian Believer. Sam joins my dad, Ed, and countless multitudes who’ve gathered in the glory of God singing, “Amazing love! How can it be?”

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me? 

Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine! 'Tis mercy all!Lett earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. 

He left His Father's throne above,so free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race; 'tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee. 

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.