Farther Along

Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long;
While there are others living about us, never molested, though in the wrong.

Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer, Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,
When there are many living in comfort, Giving no heed to all I can do.

Tempted and tried, how often we question why we must suffer year after year,
Being accused by those of our loved ones, E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.

Often when death has taken our loved ones, Leaving our home so lone and so drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper, Living so wicked year after year.

“Faithful till death,” saith our loving Master; Short is our time to labor and wait;
Then will our toiling seem to be nothing, When we shall pass the heavenly gate.

Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior, Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;
Then we will meet those gone on before us, Then we shall know and understand why.

Chorus
Farther along we’ll know more about it, Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We’ll understand it all by and by.

The first four verses of this hymn almost read like a personal “pity party.”  The author seems to be in a “woe is me” mindset, and is comparing his personal situation to four other kinds of people – those living in the wrong, those living in comfort, those that are accusing him, and those that are prospering.  Do you find yourself in this situation sometimes?  Are you surrounded by people that aren’t living right, but seem to be prospering?  Do you feel like the world is not fair?  Jesus told His followers that “in this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Paul reminds us in Romans 5 that “sufferings produce perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope.”  These trials and tribulations will be a normal part of a believer’s life, and might be an increasing part of a mature believer’s life.  I am thankful that the author reminds us in the last two verses and in the chorus that our trials on this earth are temporary and that we will understand these things better by and by.

Couple of things in the verses I like:

• “Short is our time/Soon we will see” – Have you ever noticed how fickle human beings are and how easily our minds can be changed?  Think about this.  When you are attending a boring lecture, concert, or play, do you say to yourself – “Will this ever end?”  It seems like an eternity.  Then, on the other hand, older parents will remind parents of small children like me – “Be careful to enjoy your kids when they’re little because time flies and you’ll look up and your sweet little 5 year old daughter will be walking down the aisle.”  Which is it?  Does time drag on, or does it fly by?  The Bible says “Life is but a vapor.”  Can you measure how quickly a vapor dissipates into the air?  I think the author is right and “Short is the time” when we compare our mortal lifetime with eternity, and “soon” we will see an end to our trouble and we will see our Savior.  It just doesn’t always seem that way.

• “walked in God’s holy fear” –  I was listening to a minister on the radio talk about the fear of God and what that meant.  When we talk about the “Fear of God,” we often times think back to the Old Testament and a fear the Israelites had of God.  For example, the Hebrews wanted Moses to speak to God directly because they were scared of God’s judgment.  The Bible also talks about other nations that were afraid of the God of the Hebrews because they had seen what He had done on their behalf.  I remember the story of the man who touched the Ark of the Covenant, after being commanded not to, and he died immediately.  Those are the kinds of things I think about when I consider the fear of the Lord.  This radio minister, however, reminded me of Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament.  These two people were struck dead for lying.  This was in the New Testament.   Can you imagine the impact that event had on the early church?  Can you imagine how we would live if we truly had a “holy” fear of God?  I think our actions would be different if we walked daily in the fear and reverence of the Lord.  This “fear” is the beginning of wisdom, and I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use more of that.

Have you been on a long trip with kids lately?  If so, you have inevitably heard the following question “How much farther?”  Back in the spring, my family went to Charlotte to visit family, and I heard this on repeated occasions.  What is funny about this particular question from a young child is that no matter what answer you give them, they can’t comprehend it.  If I say “200 miles,”  do they really understand how far that is?  If I say a couple of hours, do they really understand how long that is?  Two hours watching a movie is very different than two hours staring out the window and being bored, or two hours asleep.  I have tried to change my response from specific to vague over the years with my kids for this very reason.  I now tell them “we’ll get there when we get there.”  They don’t necessarily like my response, but if they can’t understand the true answer, does it make any sense to tell them all of the specifics?

I wonder if we are like that with the Lord sometimes.  Do we ask “How much longer will I have to endure a situation?”  or “How much longer do I have to wait until I get an answer to my prayer?”  Our desire is to see a light at the end of the tunnel, or at least get an explanation from the Lord about what His plan is, but many times, the answer doesn’t come as soon as we want it to.  It is also true that we may not be able to understand everything about our situation and how the Lord is working, and therefore we couldn’t comprehend it if He did tell us.  I hope we have the confidence in the Lord that “farther along we’ll know all about it” and that we can trust that He is in control.  This is where true peace is found.  Not knowing all the answers, but knowing Who has all the answers, and having confidence in Him. 

I have attached a link to a YouTube video of this song.  Ironically, it is sung by three children that are sisters.  Maybe we can learn from the “wisdom of a child” and from the truth of this great hymn, and be confident that “farther along we’ll understand why.”