1 “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Refrain:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty-handed go?
2 Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow. [Refrain]
3 Oh, the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow. [Refrain]
4 Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may. [Refrain]
Timeless Truths
First Line: | Must I go, and empty handed |
Title: | Must I Go, and Empty-Handed? |
Author: | Charles C. Luther (1877) |
Meter: | 8.7.8.7 D |
Language: | English |
Notes: | Swahili translation: See "Mbele yake Mwokozi wangu" |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
After a month only of Christian life, nearly all of it upon a sick bed, a young man of nearly thirty years lay dying. Suddenly a look of sadness crossed his face, and to the query of a friend he exclaimed: "No, I am not afraid, Jesus saves me now; but oh, must I go, and empty handed?" —Crowning Glory No. 1, 1890, Hymn 138.