How Sweet The Sound

When John Newton wrote this hymn, it was very personal to him. I wonder if he had any idea how personal it would become to so many. It is a very special hymn to me. I have put together a few verses that I feel confirm through God’s Word what Newton was saying.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

I can think of no sweeter sound than my Lord saying “your sins are forgiven, your debt is paid”

That sav’d a wretch like me!

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

I once was lost, but now am found,

Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Was blind, but now I see.

Joh 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no,I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

Psa 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

And grace my fears reliev’d;

Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 

How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d! 

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

 Jam 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.   

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

But God, who call’d me here below,

1Jo 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Will be forever mine.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The Interview

A few days ago I came up with the idea for my wife and I to come up with a series of questions for each other and then to interview each other on camera. I really wanted to capture the spontaneous answers and emotions that might come up. I thought it would be too easy to come up with the perfect answer unless we were somewhat constrained by time. Also, not knowing the questions beforehand would really make us think on our feet. She was more excited about the idea than I thought she would be, and went to work on her questions for me. I already had 16 questions down for her.

 Last night after we put our son to bed, she came into our bedroom with her list of 16 questions. We decided to set the camera up right there and just go for it. Once I got set up, we sat beside each other and turned the camera on. After I asked her 4 questions, it was her turn. “If you had exactly 5 minutes with your Grandfather right now, how would you spend it?”

Wow. I wasn’t expecting that at all. The flood of emotions that filled me was a bit overwhelming.

A bit of background…  My grandfather passed away 10 years ago, before I accepted Christ as my Saviour. Not only was I unsaved, but I was about as worldly as one man could be. The exact opposite of my grandfather. During the last few years of his life, I was generally nowhere to be found. I missed his last years because I was too busy being a drug addicted selfish wretch. I admired him more than anyone in my life. Long story short, He was always there for me and I was not there for him.

Back to the question. As I fought back the tears, I was finally able to say, “first, I would apologize for not being there for him. That wouldn’t take long, because he would stop me and tell me that it was ok. Then I would spend the next 4 1/2 minutes celebrating and praising God that this would not be the last time we got to see each other, that we would now be able to spend eternity together in the presence of God.”

Psalm 34:3 O magnify Jehovah with me, and let us exalt His name together.

I can think of no better way to spend 5 minutes than that.