WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER

Today was another one of those times that causes a shake of the head.

One of my grandmother's favorite songs was "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder". I can still hear her singing and humming along as she went about her daily chores when I visited her home. Sitting next to her in the little country church of New York, Texas I heard that old hymn sung with a lot of gusto.

Today we sang that same hymn in Cesis, Latvia. The words might be translated slightly different in Latvian but the tune is identical. As I gazed out the window on a very different landscape than Texas, I couldn't help but realize how fast my life has sped by.

What happened to that little boy sitting with his Mam-ma in church and listening to the grown-ups sing? Where did the years go?

Life on this earth is so short; the Bible says it's just a vapor. We struggle daily to amass fortunes, build empires, manipulate circumstances and worry about where we are going to get enough money to buy the next new I-gadget.

The real question is "When the roll is called up yonder will YOU be there?"

 

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.