The Sands of Time | Whitton Baptist Church

When I think about the subject of heaven, there’s one hymn that immediately comes to mind. Throughout my childhood, I remember regularly singing it from the little burgundy hymn books we had in the church I grew up in. The words have stuck with me over the years, regularly reminding me to think less about this present life, and more about eternity.

After we sang it last Sunday, someone asked me what the line in verse 2 means: “it were a well-spent journey, though seven deaths lay between”. I was a little flustered because I really didn’t have much of an idea, and that’s a bit embarrassing when you’ve just announced that it’s one of your favourites.

I have since discovered that Ann Ross Cousin, the Victorian author of the hymn, based it on some of the letters and writings of the 17th century Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford. The toil and sorrow of Rutherford’s life gives light to the mysterious “seven deaths” phrase.

King Charles I wanted to steer the Scottish churches toward Roman Catholicism. Rutherford resisted, which led to his being dismissed from his parish and exiled far away from his beloved church family. His wife later died after a long illness, along with his two children. Rutherford himself was eventually charged with treason, although he never made it to court, replying from his deathbed, “I must answer my first summons!”

I think the mysterious line in the hymn is a reflection of Rutherford’s attitude: that the journey toward Heaven, following Christ, may be hard – it may feel as though death has come many times -but it’s still a well-spent journey. Jesus is worth it.

Here’s the hymn in its most modern version: (The original has 19 verses!)

1. The sands of time are sinking;
the dawn of heaven breaks:
the summer morn I’ve longed for,
the fair, sweet morn awakes.
Dark, dark has been the midnight
but sunrise is at hand
with glory, glory dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.

2. The King in all his beauty
without a veil is seen;
it were a well-spent journey
though seven deaths lay between.
The Lamb and all his ransomed
upon Mount Zion stand
with glory, glory dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.

3. Christ Jesus is the fountain,
the deep, sweet well of love;
the streams on earth I’ve tasted
more deep I’ll drink above;
there, to an ocean fulness,
his mercy will expand
with glory, glory dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.

4. With mercy and with judgement
my web of time he wove
and every dew of sorrow
was glistening with his love.
I’ll bless the hand that guided,
I’ll bless the heart that planned,
when in his glory dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.

5. The bride eyes not her garment
but her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
but on my king of grace;
not at the crown he gives me
but on his nail-pierced hand;
the Lamb is all the glory
of Immanuel’s land.

6. I’ve wrestled on towards heaven
through storm and wind and tide;
now, like a weary traveller
who leans upon his guide,
with evening shadows closing
while sinks life’s lingering sand,
I greet the glory dawning
from Immanuel’s land.