(#258 in the 1940 Hymnal), 4 October 2022 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 (KJV)
This hymn, though of fairly recent origin, remains faithful to the exposition of true doctrine and biblical teaching. There are a number of biblical metaphors of great beauty herein. The hymn was written in 1931 by George Wallace Briggs to JS Bach’s Kinkart. The hymn tune provided in the 1940 Hymnal is by Percy E.B. Coller entitled St. Joan – after the author’s wife. Of the two tunes, that of Bach’s Kinkart is my favorite for dignity and spiritual depth.
CHRIST IS THE WORLD’S TRUE LIGHT
by George Wallace Briggs
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Christ is the world’s true light,
Its Captain of salvation,
The Day-star clear and bright
Of every man and nation;
New life, new hope awakes,
Where’er men own his sway;
Freedom her bondage breaks,
And night is turned to day.2. In Christ all races meet,
Their ancient feuds forgetting,
The whole round world complete,
From sunrise to its setting:
When Christ is throned as Lord,
Men shall forsake their fear,
To ploughshare bear the sword,
To pruning-hook the spear.3. One Lord, in one great Name
Unite us all who own thee;
Cast out our pride and shame
That hinder to enthrone thee;
The world has waited long,
Has travailed long in pain;
To heal its ancient wrong,
Come, Prince of Peace, and reign. Amen.
Christ is the world’s true light, Its Captain of salvation, The Day-star clear and bright Of every man and nation; New life, new hope awakes, Where’er men own his sway; Freedom her bondage breaks, And night is turned to day. As should be the rule for all music fit for worship, this hymn combines depth of meaning, biblical truth, and metered sequences with the musical score that matches the reverence and beauty of the words. In Christ, we find the meeting point of all nations, tribes and tongues. It is a mission-oriented hymn that takes advantage of numerous types and metaphors in its context. Yes, Christ is the only true Light of the World that is never extinguished of eclipsed except by those hearts that allow material lust to come between. He is the Day Star, or Sun of our life’s joy. (2 Peter 1:19) and our Sun of Righteous which shall “arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2 Just as our Sun casts its beams on every sea and continent, so does that Day Star shine upon every people to reveal the Way of Righteousness and to expose sin and wickedness. Light reveals truth even in the dark night, and truth overcomes error. The end is Liberty for the soul.
In Christ all races meet, Their ancient feuds forgetting,The whole round world complete, From sunrise to its setting: When Christ is throned as Lord, Men shall forsake their fear, To ploughshare bear the sword, To pruning-hook the spear. Those who love the Lord and His righteousness find safe lodging in Him as their Ark in time of trouble. They are IN Christ just as Christ is IN them. All in Christ are One with Him as He is One with the Father. There is no division of race, nationality, or language in Christ for He is not divided against Himself. When we observe the world political system pitting race against race, and class against class, we can know this is not of the Lord but of the ancient Serpent of the Garden. There is no fear in love. (see Gospel of St. John 17:20-23) It should be noted, as well, that Christ is not only our Day Star, but also our Bright and Morning Star from sunset twilight to the dawning of the splendor of the Sunrise. (see Revelations 22:16) He is that Light of Hope to guide our feet through the darkness of the night of this world until that Day Star arises.
- One Lord, in one great Name Unite us all who own thee; Cast out our pride and shame That hinder to enthrone thee; The world has waited long, Has travailed long in pain; To heal its ancient wrong, Come, Prince of Peace, and reign. Amen. The AMEN at the end of this hymn symbolizes the nature of all true hymns that can be rendered as prayers. All classic hymns end with AMEN. “One Great Name!” There are no names in Hell. The only names that endure are those recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life, but all fall under that Name above every other Name – the Lord Jesus Christ! How great that Name? “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11 (KJV) All those souls who are the elect of God shall fear no shame or rejection on the Last Day. The elect shall witness the destruction of all the earth and heavenly bodies at the last. The Ark of our Salvation (our Lord Jesus Christ) shall provide security from the ruin. “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.” Psalms 102:25-26 (KJV)
