Last week, at the 46th presidential inauguration in these United States of America, singer/songwriter Garth Brooks performed Amazing Grace. This hymn was familiar enough that the audience was invited to join in singing.
I was reminded of a posted recording where a video of Amazing Grace was created to represent a coming together of fifty Covid-19 affected countries. All are singing Amazing Grace in their own language! What a joy to hear this profound message in the words of this much-translated hymn! Check it out below!
The writer of Amazing Grace, John Newton, was born in London in 1725. He lived during a time when apparently words like wretch and forbear were part of everyday common language. During his early life he was prayed for and taught hymns and scripture by his mother who died when he was just 6 years old.
Newton’s life became one of rebellion and troublemaking with eventual involvement in the slave trade. This is where he was when he cried out to God for fear of his own life.
John Newton wrote of his conversion years later by penning the now-familiar words of Amazing Grace. How a simple, yet profound, hymn written almost 250 years ago can become such a phenomenon in today’s world is to me miraculous! For these words contain the story and reality of salvation. The reality that he who once was lost can now be found; once blind, he now can see!
So life-changing was Newton’s conversion that he wrote an epitaph for his tombstone that read: “John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the gospel he had long labored to destroy.”
How many of us have experienced the truth of Amazing Grace in our own hearts and lives? To be sure, there were those during the inauguration, and those in the posted Amazing Grace video, who as they joined in singing the words to this hymn, were absolutely aware of the life-changing power available through the gospel of Jesus Christ! Have we, like Newton, had our eyes opened to the preciousness of sweet grace and forgiveness in that hour we first believed?
The words to Amazing Grace were in fact written around the same time this great country of ours, the United States of America, was initially founded.
Though the truth of Amazing Grace has not changed, our country continues to change. While we don’t often know what lies ahead, let us remember that as believers, we are called to pray – for our leaders, for our country, for our nation. In our ever-changing world, may we remember that The Lord has promised good to us, and that indeed, His Word our hope secures!
As our hearts turn to God, our Father through whom we seek direction and needed strength, may we remember that His grace hath brought us safe thus far, and His grace will lead us home. Amen.
Blessings to you, my friend!
Amazing Grace
Words by John Newton 1772
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.
Sources: Internet: Hymnlyrics.org / Wikipedia sources / The Real Story Behind Amazing Grace – Biography by David Sheward / The History of Song Amazing Grace: Our Pastimes