When I’m going through difficult times, a hymn I find deeply comforting is Fanny J. Crosby’s “My Saviour First of All” (Hymn 210 of our TJC hymnbook). This hymn is nostalgic to me, as we often sung this during regular church services when I was a kid and we only had 300-odd hymns in our hymnbook, including this one. This hymn also reminds me of funeral services, where if the deceased was a TJC member, we would sometimes sing this hymn to comfort the bereaved family by reminding them that their loved one is now resting in the Lord. 

Recently, as I was singing this hymn again during a regular service, this sentence caught my attention: “In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight, but I long to meet my Saviour first of all.” 

In my growing-up years as a child/teenager, I never understood this sentence when I sang it. Now, as an adult, I finally understand and can somewhat relate to Crosby’s words.  

Like many of us Christians, Crosby was eager to go to heaven where there would be no more suffering (Rev 21:4). She was also eager to reunite and “mingle” with her deceased loved ones who have gone there earlier. What struck me even more was how all this was followed by a “but” – “but I long to meet my Saviour first of all.”

This was how much Crosby loved Jesus – more than her earthly comforts (or lack thereof), and more than her deceased loved ones whom she missed. 

She loved being a Christian and loved Christ, simply because of His salvation and who He is; simply because Christ lovingly died for her (Rom 5:8) and has promised to prepare for her a place in heaven (Jn 14:2-3). 

How about us today – as modern Christians, do we have such a pure and single-minded love towards Christ?  

Reflecting on myself, I must confess that my love for Christ isn’t as pure as what Crosby expressed in this hymn. If you ask me my reason for loving Christ over the years, my answer will have many “ands” – “His protection, and His providence, and His help, and His comfort, and His encouragement… and also, of course, His salvation.” Although I do treasure the salvation of my soul, unlike Crosby, I mainly love Christ because of the earthly blessings He has given me. And (haha, another “and”), when these are taken away, I do find that my love for Christ starts to waver – that is when I realise, I’m not valuing His salvation enough.    

In our modern hustle and bustle, it is easy for us to be lost in our earthly stressors and pleasures while growing numb to our great salvation. Hebrews 2:1 therefore tells us to pay much closer attention to the words of God, lest we drift away from the faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 also tells us not to neglect our gathering for church services, as this is another practical way to stir up one another in love and good works according to God’s words. Therefore, lest we devalue the salvation of our souls, let us stay dedicated to our daily reading of the bible and weekly church services. 

So… before your time on earth is up, do you seek to meet your Saviour first of all, everyday? 

Have you allowed Him to transform your spiritual life, or have you only been pursuing an upgrade in your standard of earthly living?

Before our life work is ended, may we know our Redeemer first of all. 🌞