Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters

"There is a happy land, Far, far away ……"

For some unaccountable reason, that line from the Sunday School hymnal of unknown date, and published by The National Sunday School Union of Ludgate Hill, London came into mind and this immediately got me thinking about some "Whys and wherefores".

How would the present-day young person view such a collection of thoughts on Revelation 21:1 ? I could possibly anticipate a question, 'Are they on some form of drugs?' 'Who knows a "happy land" anyway?' Good question, for the terminology has long since surpassed itself and has almost rendered itself devoid of meaning ----- but just hang on a minute ------

The words were set down by Andrew Young and dated 1843. Not many years after Waterloo and a host of other European battles of the time: people were weary, sad and heavy-laden with the demands of King and State to satisfy the 'glory needs' of the day, so, was there any better solace than to turn to The Word of the Lord? Yet, how DOES one seek to interpret the Book of Revelation?

It has been presented to me as 'a cranks paradise' where the sentences and phraseology can be used to advantage by all and sundry, but here, in quite a pathetic sense the writer, for me at any rate, is using the set imagery as a kind of solace ---- a panacea from the woes of the world which surrounded him and so many others at the time. Here was 'an escape route' and that led right to that 'happy land'

"Where saints in glory stand, bright, bright as day
Oh, how they sweetly sing, worthy is our Saviour King;
Loud let His praises ring ---- praise, praise for aye"

While those words may appear to 21st century eyes and minds to be an over-simplistic rendition of the final book in the Bible, that imagery has 'stuck' for me as a picture I can contend with as being so far removed from this world as to be in total contrast ----- but is this what we expect Heaven to be? There does not appear to be any other explanation readily available, but is this something we can 'sell' to a doubting, skeptical public? The hymn goes on..

"Come to this happy land,
Come, come away;
Why will ye doubting stand?
Why still delay?"

I find this section extremely challenging, even today. For no punches are pulled as to this hymn's reasoning or its demands. It hits right to the heart of the problem for all humankind in whatever century or time-frame you seek to share these words. There is a choice to be made ------ There is something FAR BETTER than the life being led on this 'miserable earth' and this hymn apparently, HAS the answer.

"Oh, we shall happy be,
When, from sin and sorrow free,
Lord, we shall live with Thee,
Blest, blest for aye"

And that is a statement to which the Christian can cling: there is new life in Christ Jesus!! Because of what He has done for us all, although the hymn-writer fails to mention it; in the Victorian era was it right to assume that all REALLY knew this fact, or did the 'ideal' remain a childhood fantasy. For there is also another assumption which can be made from these words …… this 'ideal' can ONLY be attained after death … after leaving this earthly coil. But, is this what each and all truly desired from the Christian faith? I don't really think so, or am I simply looking at the entire scenario with 21st century eyes? But consider the final verse ………………..

"Bright in that happy land beams every eye;
Kept by the Father's hand,
love cannot die.
On then to glory run,
Be a crown and kingdom won,
And bright above the sun Reign,
reign for aye."</>

A Sunday School hymn maybe, but for me and my ministry in this time-frame a damning indictment which suggests that the concept of heaven cannot be obtained here on God's earth. Now, that really makes you think!

Shalom,
Malcolm.
May 2006