Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Only One Life by C.T. Studd
“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
C.T. Studd (1860-1931) as recounted by Knowing Who You Are: Eight Surprising Images of Christian Identity by Malcolm Gill (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2015) 21-22.
Studd was a missionary who served and died in Belgian Congo. I am moved anew and afresh by this poem. While I have shared the last two lines before as a meditation, I had never read the entire poem until now.
God help me leave my selfish aims and cleave only to Thy will. Thanks that You are faithful and true what e’er the strife. Help me please Thee in my daily life, until I hear You call me home. Amen.