Secure By The Faith of Jesus Christ

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

He will keep me till the river Rolls its waters at my feet;

Then He'll bear me safely over, Where the loved ones I shall meet.

Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me,

Sing it with the saints in glory, Gathered by the crystal sea

Francis H. Rowley (1886)

The Transition Into Eternity

The hymn I Will Sing the Wondrous Story expresses, in these simple but profound words, a confidence that every believer longs to possess: “He will keep me till the river rolls its waters at my feet.” The “river” is a beautiful picture of the final boundary of earthly life, the moment when you come to the end of your journey and stand at the threshold of eternity. Yet the great emphasis of the line is not upon the river, but upon the One who keeps you until you reach it.

The Bible repeatedly teaches that salvation is not merely something God begins in you and then leaves you to preserve by your own strength. The God who saves you is also the God who keeps you. Jude describes believers as those who are “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ”. Your security rests ultimately not in the strength of your grip upon Christ, but in the strength of Christ's grip upon you.

Jesus gave one of the clearest promises of this keeping power when He said:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”—John 10:28, KJV

Jesus Christ’s Faithful Words

Notice the certainty of Christ's words. He does not say that His sheep might perish if circumstances become difficult. He says, “they shall never perish.” He does not merely promise to help you hold on to Him; He declares that no one can pluck you out of His hand. The assurance of salvation therefore rests upon the finished work and preserving power of Jesus Christ.

Your Salvation Is Secure in Christ

Notice that the hymn does not say we must swim the river by our own strength. Jesus does not lead you to the edge of death and leave you to navigate the current alone. He bears you over.

• Victory Over Death: Just as the Priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant stood firm in the midst of Jordan until all the people passed over clean, Jesus Christ, our high priest, has already conquered death.
• Absorbed in Victory: Because He lives, the sting of death is removed: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?". The very moment the waters touch your feet, His divine hand carries you across into eternal glory.

When the shadows lengthen and you look toward that final, uncertain river, do not let your heart be troubled.

Your salvation does not rest upon the weakness of your resolve, but upon the eternal strength of the Savior who bought you. He who began a good work in you will surely complete it. When you reach the very edge of mortality, you will not sink beneath the waves; you will find Him there, bearing you safely across.