“Heaven Holds All to Me”

"HEAVEN HOLDS ALL TO ME"
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly" (Heb. 11.16)

     INTRO.: A hymn which expresses the desire which all of God’s people have, or at least should have, for that better country is "Heaven Holds All To Me" (#191 in Hymns for Worship Revised and #355 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text was written and the tune was composed both by Tillit Sidney Teddlie (1885-1987).  A native of Swan, TX, he was baptized into Christ by A. M. Shelton at Golden, TX, in Aug., 1903, and produced this song in 1912 on an envelope with a pencil stub, both of which he carried in his helpers overalls while sitting under a hickory tree on his farm near Golden, north of Tyler. It was copyrighted by the Gospel Advocate Co. in 1932, and is probably his best-known gospel song. During his lifetime, Teddlie was not only a songwriter and hymnbook publisher, but also gospel preacher.

     Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1), the 1948 Christian Hymns No. 2, and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 all edited by L. O. Sanderson; the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1938 Spiritual Melodies, the 1943 Standard Gospel Songs, and the 1965 Great Christian Hymnal No. 2 all edited by Teddlie; the 1963 Abiding Hymns edited by Robert C. Welch; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater. Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1978/1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Hymns for Worship, Sacred Selections, and the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat.

     This hymn suggests several reasons why heaven should hold all to us.

I. In stanza 1, we’re told that earth holds no treasure
"Earth holds no treasures but perish with using, However precious they be;
Yet there’s a country to which I am going: Heaven holds all to me."
 A. The treasures of this earth are not worth the value of even one soul: Mt. 16.26
 B. Therefore, we should set our affections on things above rather than this earth: Col. 3.1-2
 C. We do this by laying up treasures in heaven, not earth: Mt. 6.19-20.  Thus, we need to make sure that we are laying up treasures in heaven, instead of considering this earth to be the abode of our permanent treasures.

II. In stanza 2, the temporalness of earth is contrasted to that wonderful country
"Out on the hills of that wonderful country, Happy, contented, and free,
Loved ones are waiting and watching my coming: Heaven holds all to me."
 A. On this earth, everything that we know is corruptible, can be defiled, and will fade away–but not so in heaven: 1 Pet. 1.3-5
 B. That is why we should look forward to that time when we have finished our course and can receive the crown of life: 2 Tim. 4.6-8
 C. Hence, our hope of something better than this old earth is laid up in heaven for us: Col. 1.1-5. Like the great patriarchs of old, we should be looking for a place in that heavenly country

III. In stanza 3, the sorrows of this earth are said to point our minds toward heaven
"Why should I long for the world with its sorrows, When in that home o’er the sea,
Millions are singing the wonderful story? Heaven holds all to me."
 A. The things of this earth often bring sorrows to us as our outward man perishes, and this is one reason why we look not at the things which are seen: 2 Cor. 4.16-18
 B. Therefore, we long for a place where there will be no sorrow: Rev. 21.1-7
 C. And that place is described figuratively as a beautiful garden with the tree of life: Rev. 22.1-5. While we recognize that no one other than Jesus himself has actually entered into heaven yet, still, the spirits of the righteous who have gone on before have returned to God and are with the Lord, so our hope is to dwell in that eternal home with them.

     CONCL.: The chorus repeats the main thought:
"Heaven holds all to me, Brighter its glory will be;
Joy without measure will be my treasure: Heaven holds all to me."
Tillit S. Teddlie was undoubtedly one of the most beloved hymnwriters among churches of Christ, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for this lovely song which reminds us of our hope in heaven. As a Christian, I can truly have hope because Jesus died for me, rose again, and ascended into heaven. And because Jesus is there waiting to come again and bring His people home, "Heaven Holds All To Me."