VICTORY IN
JESUS
As I sit here this cold afternoon, I look back over the years, and see
how the Lord has brought me to this day, though many trials and struggles, but
I see victory in all those times, and I see victory ahead. Here is a wonderful
old hymn, which we sang with much joy when I was a child and we still sing it
today, especially in the retirement home where we go to minister in song and
sharing the Word. Oh, what a precious hymn, and I am sure you will remember
singing it, so sing along as I share the history of this song, written so long
ago in the midst of the hymn-writer’s suffering. It is an amazing testimony of
one man’s victory, as he read and studied the Word, from his bed of pain. I
hope you are blessed by this wonderful hymn once again.
“Eugene M. Bartlett is a legendary
name in southern gospel circles. Born in 1885, he taught in singing schools
throughout the South and founded the Hartford Music Company in 1918. He brought
gospel music into churches large and small.
In 1939, when he was fifty-four, Bartlett had a serious
stroke. Partially paralyzed, he was virtually confined to a bedroom. No more
could he travel and encourage churches in their singing. No more could he teach
students, as he loved to do.
But he could still study the Bible. Writing was laborious;
he struggled to put words down on paper and to put notes down on a score. But
that’s the way he wrote his last song, “Victory in Jesus,” a song not only
filled with hope and cheer, but also with solid theology gleaned from his Bible
Study.” (“Hymns” by Petersen)
VICTORY IN JESUS
I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory,
how He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me, I heard about His
groaning, of His precious blood atoning, then I repented of my sins and won the
victory.
O victory in
Jesus, my Savior, forever, He sought me and bo’t me with His redeeming blood.
He loved mere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing, of His cleansing pow’r
revealing, how He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see; And
then I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,” and somehow Jesus
came and bro’t to me the victory.
I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory, and I
heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea; about the angels
singing, and the old redemption story, and some sweet day I’ll sing up there
the song of victory. Eugene M. Bartlett (1885-1941)
Yes, we have heard
the story how our Lord Jesus came as a baby in the manger. And He came to
become the living sacrifice, the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the
world. We read of His suffering on the cross and His glorious resurrection. And
we remember the day when we repented of our sins and won the victory over our
sin. I remember that day so well, as a child of 10 years old, and how my life
changed, and have loved Him all these years.
And oh, the Bible
stories, the stories of Jesus walking among the people with great compassion,
healing the sick, the lame walked, blind eyes were able to see. And today, our
Precious Lord still heals the sick, and heals our burdened souls, whatever the
need may be, and brings the victory! Oh, Praise the Lord!
And because of the
cross, and His glorious resurrection, we have a home in heaven. He has promised
each one of us a mansion and to live with Him for eternity. We will live with
Him and there will be no more pain, sorrow or tears. We will have fully won the
victory, at last!
And where are you
today, my friend? Can you look back and claim victory as you have walked with
Jesus? Or have you lost the joy of walking with Him. Or maybe you are reading
this and have never met this wonderful Savior. He is waiting for you with open
arms, arms ready to receive you into His kingdom. All He asks is that you
repent of your sins, and make a decision to follow Him. And you too, will have
“Victory in Jesus.”
In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon
