“IF WE NEVER MEET AGAIN”
“And the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain…and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
INTRO.: A song which expresses the hope of being reunited in the resurrection with those who are dead in Christ is “If We Never Meet Again” (#678 in Hymns for Worship Revised, #665 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text was written and the tune was composed both by Albert Edward Brumley (1905-1977). Brumley is perhaps best-known for “I’ll Fly Away,” one of his first songs. “If We Never Meet Again” was copyrighted in 1945 by the Stamps Quartet Music Company and renewed by them in 1973. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church for use in churches of Christ, the song has appeared in the 1971 Songs of the Church and the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed. both edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1978 Hymns of Praise edited by Reuel Lemmons; the 1978/1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; the 1994 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat; and the 2009 Favorite Songs of the Church and the 2010 Songs for Worship and Praise both edited by Robert J. Taylor Jr.; in addition to Hymns for Worship and Sacred Selections.
The song looks forward to meeting again with the saints in heaven.
I. Stanza 1 talks about the parting
Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey,
And perhaps we’ll never meet any more,
Till we gather in heaven’s bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore.
A. The end of life’s journey is, of course, death: Heb. 9:27
B. As a result of this, there are those of loved ones, friends, and brethren, even some now alive, whom perhaps we’ll never see any more: Acts 20:37-38
C. But those who are Christians have the hope that they shall gather together in heaven’s bright city: Rev. 21:1-2
II. Stanza 2 talks about the sorrow of parting
O so often we’re parted with sorrow,
Benedictions often quicken our pain,
But we never shall sorrow in heaven,
God be with you till we meet again.
A. Even though Christians do not sorrow as those without hope, there is still sorrow at the death of loved ones: 1 Thess. 4:13
B. The word “benedictions” here probably refers to the words of “good bye” said at funerals which often quickens our pain: Jn. 10:33-35
C. However, such good byes for Christians are not final, but just “God be with you till we meet again” when we join all the servants of God around His throne: Rev. 22:3
III. Stanza 3 talks about the meeting again in heaven
O they say we shall meet by the river,
Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky,
And they say we’ll be happy in heaven
In the wonderful sweet by and by.
A. This meeting will take place by the river of life: Rev. 22:1
B. No storm clouds will darken the sky because the glory of God will illuminate it: Rev. 21:23
C. And everyone will be happy because there will be no sorrow there: Rev. 21:4
CONCL.: The chorus reminds us of the glory and grandeur of being with God and the redeemed in heaven.
If we never meet again this side of heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife,
There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life;
Where the charming roses bloom forever,
And where separations come no more,
If we never meet again this side of heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore.
For various reasons, I am not a big fan of the Southern gospel music convention type of song, especially in the assemblies of the saints. However, while I’m still not sure that I would highly recommend that this song is necessarily appropriate for public worship services, it nevertheless has a wistfulness that I find appealing on a personal level. It certainly expresses the hope that we as Christians have for each other beyond this life, even “If We Never Meet Again.”