We are in a series looking at some of the most popular and loved hymns of the church so that their timeless message can speak to our lives and strengthen our faith. Today’s hymn is not one found in our UM Hymnal but is one of the most recorded gospel hymns of all time. Written in 1929 by Albert Brumley, “I’ll Fly Away'' has been recorded over 5,000 times by some of the most famous singers of all time like Elvis Presley.
Albert Brumley was born in 1905 on a cotton farm in Spiro, OK. His parents were sharecroppers, which meant that Albert and his brothers spent a lot of the time in the hot sun working hard. Life was difficult for his family and when Albert was 5 his older brother died of typhoid fever. Albert loved music and got the opportunity to leave home to study songwriting, but he would often return home to help his family pick cotton. It was during one of those long, hot, and hard days of work that he said he dreamed of flying away and got the inspiration for this song.
Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away.
To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away.
Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away.
To a land where joy shall never end, I'll fly away.
Whether Albert used Psalm 55 as part of his inspiration, we don’t know, but Psalm 55:6-8 says, Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.
While King David was seeking a place of shelter from the constant attacks of his enemies, Albert was thinking of a cool place free from the hard work of picking cotton. Both men were hoping for a better future and that’s really the message of I’ll fly away. No matter what we are going through here and now, we always have the hope of a better future and we have the hope of eternal life.
When the shadows of this life have flown, I'll fly away.
Like a bird from prison bars have flown, I'll fly away.
Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away.
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away.
As followers of Jesus, much of our time is spent focusing on how to live our lives here and now. Jesus’ teaching centered on our need to forgive one another, honor one another, care for one another, and love one another. Jesus taught us that what we say here and now, and how we treat one another here and now, is vital and it is a reflection of our deep relationship with God. Our faith in God and our trust in Jesus has to be evident in our daily lives and it needs to impact all our relationships, but our faith is not just for the here and now, it also gives us hope for the future.
The Apostle Paul said, if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22
Our hope is not just in the here and now and the power of Christ working in us in this world, our hope is also in the freedom and life that comes with the resurrection when we die. When our faith is in Jesus Christ, the one who took on our sin, paid the penalty for it by dying on the cross, and then rose again, then we have this glorious hope that we will be made alive through Christ.
In the Old Testament we hear about this hope from the prophet Isaiah who said, do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Isaiah gives us this image of flying away when life here is over. When our strength in this world is gone, we find new strength in God. We mount up with wings like an eagle and fly away.
I’m always asked a lot of questions about heaven and exactly what happens when we die. I wish I could answer those questions definitively, but the Bible isn’t clear. Jesus did say to the thief on the cross, today you will be with me in paradise, so we do know that if we turn to and trust Jesus, when life here is over there is a new life with Christ that is waiting for us. The Bible is also clear that this new life is free from all sin and sickness, disease and darkness. Revelation 21:3b-4, God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
In the new life that awaits us there is no more hunger, no more poverty, no more political division, racism, and prejudice. In heaven there is no more cancer, heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. There is no pride or sin or shame or guilt. There is no income inequality, no abuse of children or spouses, no more war or hostilities. All is made new, and while we often grieve for those we love and have lost, we need to celebrate the freedom and new life that our loved ones now experience.
Wynn Pletcher was a member of my men’s Bible study in Lewisburg and his wife battled cancer for many years. Wynn watched her body deteriorate and he was devastated when she died much too young. The first night Wyn returned to our study, he shared that while he obviously missed his wife, he did not want her back. After all, he said, if we really believe that heaven is as wonderful as it is and that life there is as free and beautiful as it is, why would I want her to return here. I’ve never forgotten that. If we really believe that heaven is real and that it is really wonderful, then why would we want them to return? We need to celebrate that they have flown away to God’s celestial shore.
Please don’t misunderstand, death is difficult and letting go of those we love is painful. There is a void in our hearts and lives that often nothing can fill, but we are not without hope for them and for us. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we have hope of a reunion that will outshine anything we will ever experience here. Maxie Dunham was a bishop in the UMC and an outstanding teacher. He once compared heaven to a giant family reunion where when you get there everyone is waiting and celebrating your arrival. We’ve all seen those reunion videos of soldiers returning home to their families and while those touch our hearts and make us cry, they are nothing compared to the party that takes place when we arrive in heaven.
One of the most moving stories of this kind of hope came from a woman here at Faith Church many years ago. Janice Reichert was in the final days of her life. I went to visit her and she was so excited because she told me how the night before her entire family had gathered in the balcony over her bed to sing for her. All her family was there and they were just waiting for her. Now here’s the thing, there was no balcony in her room. There was no family who had gathered the night before - at least no family in this world, but that reunion was taking place and they were getting ready for her. She joined them that day.
Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away.
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O Glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away.
The timeless message of I’ll fly away is that there is a resurrection and reunion for us when life here is over. It is the message of hope that life here is not all there is because there is so much more for us in the Kingdom of God. It is a song of hope, and my prayer is that this hope for tomorrow also brings with it an urgency for today.
After the Apostle Paul tried his best to explain to the early church what this new life in heaven would be like, he said this, Death has been swallowed up in victory. And God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:54b, 57b-58.
Yes, our hope is in the resurrection from the dead and the reunion that awaits us in heaven, but that hope also needs to help us stand firm today. It needs to shape our words, direct our actions, and inspire our faith. None of us is guaranteed another day, time is short for all of us, and while we can face the future unafraid we need to make the most of every day. We cannot let words go unsaid, deeds left undone, and hope left unshared.
Leave no words unsaid. One of the most important lessons we learned on 9/11 was that we may never get another day to say I Love You. Too many people left for work that day thinking they would get another day to ask for forgiveness, another day to heal a relationship, another day to tell their kids how proud of them they truly are. We need to leave no words unsaid. If there is someone you need to forgive, forgive them today. If there is someone to whom you need to say, I love you, then say it today.
Leave no deeds undone. Too many times I tell myself I need to do something for someone and then make excuses for not doing it. I’ll do it tomorrow and often tomorrow never comes. If there is something we need to do to help someone, serve someone, or love someone, do it today. Another day might be too late for you or for them, or the opportunity might simply not be there.
Leave no hope unshared. All around us there are people desperate and in despair. They are living in darkness and fear and we have the light of Christ that can give them hope and change their lives. Will we step out in faith and share it? With all the negativity in our world, and all the division we see around us, the love of God we can share with others just might be the hope needed to turn someone’s life around.
I’ll fly away is a message of hope for a better life to come. It reminds us that there is a resurrection and a reunion for us when we trust in Jesus. But it also needs to remind us to live today and every day with an urgency to share that hope and God’s love with others.
Next Steps
How Sweet The Sound - I’ll Fly Away
Find a recording of this song and listen to it this week. (It is one of the most recorded gospel songs of all time.)
In what ways does the song speak to you?
Read some of these passages that talk about our hope of heaven. What do you learn about heaven from them?
● Psalm 23
● Isaiah 40:28-31
● John 14:1-7
● 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
● Revelation 21:1-7, 22:1-7
How can our hope in Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection encourage you today?
Knowing we will all “fly away” someday, make sure you live with urgency today. Reflect on these three challenges:
● Leave no words unsaid
● Leave no deeds undone
● Leave no hope unshared
What specifically should you say, do, or share?
Who today needs your love today?
