Walk of Life, Day 2 – September 2020 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs
For the upright will inhabit the land, and men of integrity will remain in it;
– Proverbs 2:21
In the year 1962, the famous singer Jim Reeves recorded the album “We Thank Thee” comprising of twelve songs and one song in it is the most prominent song “Across the Bridge” written by Walter Scott.
The lyrics of the song go like this. Take a minute or two to just relish this old gospel song which assures about a land where there’s never gonna be sorrow, pain, pandemic, lockdown, distrust, economic crisis, desires, expectations, hunger or thirst.
“I have lived a life of sin in this world I’m living in
I have done forbidden things I shouldn’t do
I asked a beggar along the way, if he could tell me where to stay
Where I could find real happiness and love that’s true
Across the bridge, there’s no more sorrow
Across the bridge, there’s no more pain
The Sun will shine across the river
And you’ll never be unhappy again
Follow the footsteps of the King till you hear the voices ring
They’ll be singing out the glory of the land
The river Jordan will be near, the sound of trumpets you will hear
And you’ll behold the most precious place ever known to man
Across the bridge, there’s no more sorrow
Across the bridge, there’s no more pain
The Sun will shine across the river
And you’ll never be unhappy again”
What a joy to sing this song and much more to listen Bro Jim Reeves singing is incredible. Though the chorus of the song is assuring, the initial lines convey about our sinful state and underlines our forbidden state into that city. Even the great wise King Solomon clearly tells that only the upright will inhabit that land and men of integrity will remain in it.
Promisingly, the song whispers the good news that even for such a sinner like me, there’s a place filled with real happiness and true love. That land can be inhabited not with our own toil or the sweat of our brow but only by His pure mercies and grace. Knowledge and abundant educational qualification cannot purchase us a ticket to that land. Position and riches cannot simplify the task of heading over there. Even pursuing a PhD in Theology or knowing the scriptures line by line cannot embark us to go to that land.
The writer of this verse is a great example. He has recorded about that land and he has known the secret of going to that land but we are not sure if he made it to that blessed land as his name is not recorded in the list of great cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11.
After experiencing salvation and being redeemed by the precious blood of our Savior, it is very much important for every believer to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Holiness or being upright or having integrity cannot be achieved by our own effort as we live in a sinful world. Our minds should always be in tune with our Heavenly Father who is Holy and who has called us to be holy.
May our Lord make us worthy to inhabit that land which is across the bridge which is the most precious place ever known to man.
“What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.”
