During a series of evangelistic meetings, a young preacher, A. C. Upham, told in a sermon of a young man who had been converted to God only a month before he was stricken by a deadly illness. The sick man was questioned by a friend: "Are you not afraid to die?"
The answer came: "No, I am not afraid. Jesus is my Savior in death as in life. But oh, must I go, and empty-handed?"
This incident was told to C. C. Luther, another preacher. It made a strong impression on him— so strong that in a few minutes the words of this hymn had arranged themselves in Mr. Luther's mind. He wrote them out, and a few days later he handed them to Mr. George C. Stebbins, a noted composer of music for sacred hymns.
The poignant words of the dying young Christian have been used of God often over the years to awaken many hearts to receive the word of His Son, Christ Jesus. Others have been led of the Spirit of God, through hearing this hymn, to give themselves more fully to His service.
Not many years ago, a young man who was living a reckless, godless life went to a Sunday morning service in a mission hall. For the first time he heard this hymn sung during the meeting. As the third verse was sung, the young man was so forcibly impressed that he could not join in the singing. He went home, miserable and unable to eat any dinner. In the afternoon he was impressed to attend a Bible class for working men, conducted at the other end of town. As he entered the door the same hymn that had made him so miserable in the morning was being sung: "Must I go, and empty-handed?"
Again he was so moved by the Holy Spirit to apply this hymn to himself, and so impressed by the seeming coincidence of its being sung at both places where he had attended that day, that it resulted in his conversion. He has ever since lived a consistent Christian life, manifesting a real change of heart and a strong desire to "spend and be spent" for Him who so "loved Him and gave Himself for him."
Friend, will you not apply to yourself the known will of God in Christ for you? If unsaved, He longs for you to turn to Him, for He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3:9.
To every one saved by faith in His shed blood, He gives the formula for a life that honors Him, and thus "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Eph. 5:16.
Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?
"Must I go, and empty-handed?"
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Not at death I shrink nor falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him, empty-handed—
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
Oh, the years in sinning wasted!
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I'd gladly bow.
Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest!
Up and work while yet 'tis day;
Ere the night of death o'ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may.
Chorus:
"Must I go, and empty-handed?"
Mast I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
"Must I empty-handed go?"