Beyond The Sunset

Psalm 149:1-2 – Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. (NIV)

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (NIV)

It seems that the older I get, the more funerals I attend. And while all of them are different to some extent, they all seem to have one thing in common: sometime prior to or during the service, the organist will play the hymn, Beyond the Sunset. The words and the music to this beautiful hymn were written by Virgil and Blanche Kerr Brock.

Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,
When with our Saviour, heaven is begun;
Earth's toiling ended, O glorious dawning,
Beyond the sunset, when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who've gone before;
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset, forevermore.

As a young boy I remember meeting the Brocks at my grandparents' house on two occasions. They were wonderful people, and they devoted themselves to serving their Lord as evangelists in music. Much of their lives was spent on the road, away from family and friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Brock have each taken their own journey "beyond the sunset", as they passed away many years ago. But they have left behind a legacy that will always keep their names and the Christian lives they lived indelibly written on my heart and mind — and not only on mine, but also on the hearts and minds of thousands of others.

As I grow older, I wonder more and more about the legacy I'll leave behind. Will I be remembered as one who served the Lord with all his heart, mind and soul? Will I be recalled as who was generous? … who was kind? … who was loving? … who was filled with the fruit of the Spirit? Will I be remembered through the Christian lives of my children? Or will I be forgotten soon after I am gone?

I guess the legacy that I leave behind is strictly up to me. What about your legacy?

Prayer: Our loving Father, we are so grateful for music that soothes our souls, but we are so very anxious for that new song that we will sing in Your presence for eternity. Fit us to sing, and enable our lives to inspire others to sing to you too. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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