In 1907, a preacher named Henry Van Dyke was invited to speak at Williams College in Massachusetts. At breakfast one morning, he handed the college president a piece of paper saying: “Here is a hymn for you. It must be sung to the tune of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
Later, Reverend Van Dyke said that he wanted to show in the lyrics that Christian believers “ are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy faith nor will any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust, joy, and hope.”
Who was this man who still blesses us with true words more than one hundred years later?
He was born in Pennsylvania in 1852.
He became the pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City.
Later he taught English literature at Princeton University.
He authored a number of books, including one called “The Other Wise Man.”
He was the American Ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, appointed by his friend, President Woodrow Wilson.
He was a United States Navy Chaplain during WW I.
He served as the President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
Henry Van Dyke simply expressed his faith in the context of the life God gave him. And God blessed his faithfulness.
May we do the same with the life and gifts our gracious God has given us.
