Only One Life, 'Twill Soon Be Past
by Author unknown



ivy

Only One Life, 'Twill Soon Be Past

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 Judgment 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.

  —Author unknown


This poem has been attributed to C. T. Studd, but I have found no conclusive evidence to support his authorship. He did write the following in A Farewell Letter to his Grandchildren the last year (1931) of his life:
"My loving advice to you is summed up in a few lines which I want you to learn by heart:
Only one life, 'twill soon be past;
Only what's done for Jesus will last."

It is interesting to note that William S. Dillion composed the melody for the following in 1942 which was published in Choice Hymns of the Faith, #340 (Gospel Perpetuating Fund, Fort Dodge, IA, 1944):
"Only one life for Jesus, 'twill soon be past;
Only what's done for Jesus, forever will last;
Only one life for Jesus, 'twill soon be past;
Only what's done for Jesus, forever will last."
—Anonymous

"Hymns [and poems] attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many years."—hymnary.org

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