It Will Be Worth It All

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen
All Rights Reserved

No man who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well, ever loses his self-respect.

-          George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950.

   When one reads the harrowing exploits of history’s heroes such as missionary-explorer David Livingstone, Albert Schweitzer at Lambarene and (missionary) Richard Burton in Africa, one stands amazed at the courage and bravery of these men. I have recently read a biography on explorer Henry Morton Stanley and it reads like an Alan Quatermain adventure novel by Rider Haggard; in fact, if you love tales about the untamed tropical jungles of Africa, dangerous wild animals and robust adventure, this book about Stanley is the book for you (See Bibliography below).

   Modern exploits by people like John Wesley in England and the USA, missionary to the Sotho people Reinhardt Gschwend in 'Basutoland' (now Lesotho) and David Du Plessis (‘Mr. Pentecost’) in the USA and Europe adds considerably to the charm. Billy Graham’s remarkable career as an evangelist needs no introduction.  Great names like missionaries Eric Liddell (of Chariots Of Fire fame), Hudson Taylor and C. T Studd never fail to inspire and amaze.  
   The story about John G. Lake’s faith and healing ministry in Africa, especially in South Africa and in the USA, rarely fails to inspire. What is so remarkable of his indefatigable efforts to proclaim the gospel was the fact that, when he arrived home in Johannesburg from 'Bechuanaland' (now Botswana) by the laborious transport of ox-wagon, where he had been ministering to the Tswana people, he found his wife dead with seven children to care for. This is what some famous people had to say about Lake:

• W.T. Stead (1849-1912): "Lake is the embodiment of the spirit of primitive Christianity." 

• Rev. Andrew Murray (1828-1917): "The man reveals more of God than any other man in Africa."

• Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902):  " ... his message has swept Africa. He has done more toward South Africa's future peace than any man."

• Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948):  "Dr. Lake's teachings will eventually be accepted by the entire world."

(Copeland: 236).

   Furthermore, just because I’m not of the Roman Catholic persuasion don’t think I’m going to dismiss Mother Theresa’s monumental contribution to the alleviation of the discomfort and misery of the homeless and destitute as trivial or insignificant. I salute these stalwarts of the faith and honour them, men and women, with the respect they deserve … we can always, if really necessary, sort out our doctrinal differences (if any at all) later. I firmly believe that God's universal norm for true spirituality is LOVE, not DOCTRINE.

   It is also so tragic that many people have laboured (and still labour) in the field of first aid, medicine, nursing, pastoral counselling, missions, evangelism, Bible translation & distribution and the building and operating of churches, orphanages, old age homes, hospitals and schools  in complete anonymity and who probably will never receive the accolades they so thoroughly deserve … not in this life anyway.  

   I was introduced to this song as a young 14-year old convert in 1962, ironically in the same year that the author of the song, Esther Kerr Rusthoi, died. The hymn serves to remind all of us, no matter what vocation or ministry we are involved in, that “it will be worth it all” (when we see Jesus!). The very idea of actually coming face to face with the Jesus we had been admiring and expecting for over two-thousand years is an awesome thought.  At the great reunion on the Lord’s Day one day (says the Bible) the hallelujahs of the masses of joyful believers will sound like great peals of thunder:

   And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth (Revelation 19:6 KJV, www.e-sword.net).      

YouTube 

It Will Be Worth It All

(Esther Kerr Rusthoi, 1909-1962/© Copyright 1941, Renewal 1969 by Howard Rusthoi. Assigned to Singspiration, Inc. All Rights Reserved)

Oft times the days seems long,

Our trials hard to bear;

We’re tempted to complain,

To murmur and despair.

But Christ will soon appear

To catch His bride away,

All tears forever over,

In God’s eternal day.

Sometimes the sky looks dark,

With not a ray of light;

We’re tossed and driven on,

No human help in sight;

But there is one in Heaven,

Who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem,

Just go to Him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be ended,

All storms forever past;

We’ll cross the great divide

To glory, safe at last.

We’ll share the joys of Heav’n,

A harp, a home, a crown;

The tempter will be banished,

We’ll lay our burden down.

CHORUS

It will be worth it all,

When we see Jesus;

Life’s trials will be so small,

When we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face,

All sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race,

Till we see Christ. 

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
4. eBook: 'Meditations & Contemplations: A Reader For Both Atheists And Creationists' (ENGLISH)
5. eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
6. eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
11. eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable):  Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
12. eTraktate, Christelik (Gratis, Aflaaibaar): Gratis, aflaaibabre Christelike Traktate vir gratis verspreiding (AFRIKAANS)

Bibliography

1.  Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.

2.  Copeland, Gloria (Ed.) (1994) John G. lake: His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness Of Faith. Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Fort Worth, Texas.  
3.  Jeal, Tim (2007) Stanley: The Impossible Life Of Africa's Greatest Explorer. Faber & Faber Ltd. London
4.  Peterson, John V. (1968) Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘It Will Be Worth It All’. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
5.  Wikipedia. 'Esther Kerr Rusthoi'. Accessed At <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Kerr_Rusthoi> [online] 2013.