I Fear Not Death

I was reading another blog this morning and there was a post about how the Christian need not fear death because in Christ we are victorious over death. The end of this life is merely the beginning of our eternal life with God. For some reason this got me to thinking about the songs I would like to be played at my memorial service. I know that sounds a bit morbid, and I hope for the sake of my family that my memorial service is many years in the future. But the songs I would like played or sung at that service are indicative of how little I fear death itself.

The first song would be the hymn “I’ll Fly Away.” I have this song on 4 or 5 CDs by different artists, including Jars of Clay and Johnny Cash. The first time I heard it was at my husband’s grandma Ruth’s funeral.

Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore , I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away oh glory, I’ll fly away (in the morning)
When I die hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly, I’ll fly away

Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I’ll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then , I’ll fly away
To a land where joys will never end, I’ll fly away

The second song would be “Wayfaring Stranger” by Johnny Cash. He may not have written it, but his version is the one I am familiar with.

I’m a poor wayfaring stranger
While traveling thru this world of woe
Yet there’s no sickness, toil, or danger
In that bright world to which I go
I’m going there to see my Father
I’m going there no more to roam
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

The third song is “One Day” by Aaron Shust, a relatively new Christian artist. He opened for Third Day at one of their concerts, and I liked him so much I bought his CD. This song has such an upbeat tempo and wonderful message of what a blessing it will be to pass through death to life everlasting.

One Day I will leave this body
and I will get a perfect one
That day I will see His glory
shining like the noonday sun
One day, I’ll take a walk with Jesus
He might explain the mysteries of life
Some say, I just can’t believe it
but I know that one day

We will gather at the Crystal Throne
All these years: we’re finally home
I can actually see His face
And all I can do is say,

Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come
We lay our crowns before You
Every heart and soul: adore You:
The God of gods, Almighty One

One Day, death will be abolished
And sin will have its mastery no more
And I know that we will be astonished
At all that our Creator has in store
One day we will meet our Savior
And He will give each one of us a stone
Engraved with our names upon it:
known by God alone

The fourth song is “Angel Band,” which I’ve also heard by Johnny Cash, though he did not write it.

Chorus
Oh come angel band
Come and around me stand
Bear me away on your snow-white wings
To my immortal home
Bear me away on you snow-white wings
To my immortal home

I’ve almost gained my heavenly home
My spirit loudly sings
The holy ones, behold they come
I hear the noise of wings

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