Perhaps no one else has ever had such a voice as the great Italian singer, Caruso. He enthralled thousands of people all over the world; and when this renowned vocalist came to the end of his days on earth, a well-known newspaper announced his death with the headline: "CARUSO WILL NEVER SING AGAIN.”
In a large hospital there lay another singer, a young man who was just at the beginning of his career. His fame had not risen to the heights to which Caruso had reached, but his talent promised great success. At the time when his popularity was rapidly increasing he was stricken with cancer, and his sympathetic doctor said to him one day: "Young man, I am sorry to tell you this, but you will never sing again." Then he informed him that as a last chance to save his life, a glossectomy must be performed (removal of the tongue). "You may survive the operation," 'aid the doctor, "but one thing is certain, YOU WILL NEVER SING AGAIN.”
Looking up into the surgeon's face, smiling, the young man replied: "Doctor, I WILL SING AGAIN. If I never sing again on earth, I am going to sing a new song with the redeemed around the throne of God in heaven. I am going to sing a new song 'unto Him who loved me and washed me from my sins in His own blood.'" (Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5).) Then he added, "Doctor, I want to sing once again on earth, before you remove my tongue tomorrow morning.”
The next day the young man was taken into the operating room. Doctors and nurses stood by, ready to administer the anesthetic. "Now," said the surgeon kindly, "what about your last song?" To the surprise of all, the young man opened his lips and sang the whole of Cowper's well known hymn: There is a stream of precious blood
Which flowed from Jesus' veins;
And sinners washed in that blest flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That Savior in his day;
And by that blood, though vile as he,
Our sins are washed away.
Blest Lamb of God, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till every ransomed saint of God
Be saved to sin no more.
E'er since by faith, we saw the stream
Thy wounds supplied for sin,
Redeeming love has been our theme,
Our joy and peace has been.
Soon in a nobler, sweeter song
We'll sing Thy power to save;
No more with lisping, stamm'ring tongue,
But conquerors o'er the grave.
Lord, we believe Thou has prepared
(Unworthy though we be)
For us a blood-bought, free reward,
And harps of minstrelsy.
Harps strung and tuned for endless years
And formed by power divine,
To sound, in God the Father's ears,
No other name but Thine.
"Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Reader, were you today found in the position of this young man, could you sing with confidence: "I do believe, I now believe,
That Jesus died for me;
That on the cross He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free"?
Will you ever sing again after you have departed this life? Or will you be among the many lost souls whose eternal portion must be "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth"? I pray you may accept Christ as your Redeemer now, and become forever a singer of His praise.