Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”
— extra stanza —
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee
I grew up with a wall plaque featuring the first verse of this beautiful poem. It should be a hymn. I have lost that plaque and tried in vain to recall the words. Finally, I looked it up on the Internet. I am so pleased you have the whole poem. I had no idea it was more than a common Christian household maxim. I am posting it on Facebook and the first line on Twitter. I think this is a sentiment which escapes our contemporary congregations. I wish you much favor and blessing from God Almighty, the great I AM that I AM, triune and eternal God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
God bless you and keep you in his perfect peace today and forever,
John Mahler
Thanks for the comment, glad you could find the poem here and be blessed by it 🙂
John,
My father repeated this saying all his life and once, when visiting his childhood home, he showed me the exact place where the plaque hung in his home. A very fond memory for him. When he died, we put this saying on his gravestone, so it holds lots of meaning for me in my own life. I, too, am looking for one to put on my wall and stumbled on the poem I didn’t know existed :).
Jennifer
Just “discovered” C.T. Studd while listening to a sermon by Dr. Adrian Rogers. Dr. Rogers referenced C. T. Studd in his sermon to illustrate people who listened to the Holy Spirit.
The poem you posted by C.T. was a bonus find in my research of Mr. Studd. So thank you.