I saw him standing there, this man of God,
Erect and firm, although his hair was gray.
The passing years had come and they had gone
To leave the weaker men along the way
I saw him standing there, his face was fixed,
And he was unafraid to preach the Word.
Although the times had changed so many things,
His message was the same for those who heard.
I saw him standing straight and heard him preach
That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
He preached against men’s sins with force and might.
Then called to lost men with a pleading nod.
I heard him preach salvation through the blood,
The message many need to hear today;
How sinners must believe, and then repent,
And turn to be baptized the Bible way.
I heard him preach about the church of Christ,
The precious bride for which our Saviour died.
He then condemned the sects of men as sin,
And called on all to give up party pride.
I thank the Lord for this, a stalwart man,
Whose message had that old familiar ring
Of the apostles’ doctrine through and through,
And this to me was such a noble thing.
I saw him standing there, this man of God,
His life as faithful as the day is long.
It gave me courage that I needed most,
And I felt inspiration to be strong.
By James E. Gibbons