Hear thy Lord’s divine command;
Be thou ready when he calls thee
In the foremost ranks to stand.
Chorus:
Unto death, O be thou faithful,
Strong in Him, thy Strength and Shield;
Go thou forth where duty calls thee,
Truth’s eternal sword to wield.
2. Up and onward, Christian soldier,
To the conflict and the strife;
God will test thy zeal and courage,
Ere thou enter into life. [Chorus]
3. Up and onward, be not weary,
Do not lay thy armor down;
Thou must fight the battle bravely,
Ere thy soul can wear a crown. [Chorus]
4. Up and onward, firm and fearless,
Like the vet’rans of the past;
Then, thro’ him whose grace redeems thee,
Thou shalt overcome at last. [Chorus]
Scripture; Matthew 24:13, Revelation 2:10, 2 Timothy 4:7–8, James 1:12,
The hymn "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death" finds its inspiration in Revelation 2:10, where Jesus exhorts believers to remain faithful even in the face of suffering and promises a crown of life to those who endure. Though the exact authorship of the hymn is not universally agreed upon, it is often associated with Christian communities that emphasize perseverance, particularly during times of hardship or persecution. A well-known arrangement was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and published posthumously in 1880, capturing the solemn and noble tone of the hymn’s message. One remarkable story tied to this hymn involves a Hungarian man in the 1950s who, after studying the Bible and learning about the early Christians, dreamed of a song with the words "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death." Later, he found himself in a Nazarene church in Budapest where that very hymn was being sung—an experience that led to his conversion and baptism. This account illustrates the hymn's spiritual impact and how its message of unwavering loyalty to Christ continues to inspire believers around the world. Whether sung in worship, during times of trial, or in remembrance of the faithful, the hymn remains a solemn call to endure and hold fast to one’s faith until the end.
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