It’s not common these days to listen to hymns. Our worship culture has shifted to use more contemporary songs in churches, and many of them I truly love. Still, there remains a special place in my heart for “old” songs. They represent the wells dug by a former generation, a people hungry for more of God to be visible in and through them so that they could reach their world.

One example of this is “Love Divine,” by Charles Wesley. It’s fourth verse goes like this:

“Finish, then, Thy new creation;

Pure and spotless let us be.

Let us see thy great salvation,

Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise.”

What a beautiful picture this song paints of the Bride of Christ! Pure and spotless, saved by grace, refined in glory, seated in heaven… Yes, this is the way Jesus sees His bride! As the composer declares, we will cast our crowns before Him, lost in wonder, love and praise! Don’t you long for that day? I do! And it’s coming, my friend! It’s closer than we think…