Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

BIBLE REFERENCE:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.    Hebrews 12:1-2

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.    2 Corinthian 3:18

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation
and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   2 Peter 3:11-13

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthian 2:9

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23

Helen H. Lemmel - Lyrics and Composer
1863 - 1961

Born: November 14, 1863, Wardle, England.
Died: November 1, 1961, Seattle, Washington.

HYMN HISTORY:

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” has become a familiar hymn, that has been widely used in Christian circles to challenge believers musically, with the necessity of making Christ the paramount priority in their lives, and then living each day with eternity’s values in view.

The author and composer of this hymn, Helen H. Lemmel, relates that one day, in 1918, a missionary friend gave her a tract entitled “Focused,” The pamphlet contained these words:

“So then turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that he things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

These words made a deep impression upon Helen Lemmel. She could not dismiss them from her mind. She recalls this experience following the reading of that tract:

"Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but none the less dictated by the Holy Spirit."

The hymn was first published, in 1918, in the form of a pamphlet in London, England. Four years later, it was included in a collection titled, Glad Songs, a book containing sixty-seven songs by Mrs. Lemmel. This hymn became especially popular that same year at the Keswick Bible Conference in northern England, where it was first introduced. It first appeared in the United States, in 1924, in a song collection called, Gospel Truth in Song, published by Harry Clarke in Chicago, Illinois. Since that time, the song has been included in most evangelical hymnals and has been translated into many languages around the world.

Helen Howarth Lemmel was born on November 14, 1863, in Wardle, England. She was the daughter of a Wesleyan Methodist pastor, and she came to this country with he family at the age of twelve. Helen lived briefly in Mississippi before settling in Wisconsin. Soon she developed a reputation as a brilliant singer, even studying private voice in Germany for four years. She traveled widely throughout the Midwest during the early 1900’s, giving concerts in many churches. Later, Mrs. Lemmel taught voice at the moody Bible Institute and then at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. In 1961, Helen Lemmel settled in Seattle, Washington, where she remained active with Christian activities, as a member of the Ballard Baptist Church of that city, during the last days of he life.

In addition to being known as a brilliant singer and musician, Mrs. Lemmel was also widely recognized as a woman with remarkable literary ability. She wrote more than 500 hymns and poems. Mrs, Lemmel also authored a very successful book for children entitled, Story of the Bible and composed many children’s musical pieces. She remained active for God in her musical and literary pursuits, until her home-going at the age of ninety-seven.

How easy it becomes even for those of us who profess to be faithful followers of Christ to get caught up in the “things of earth,” so that our heavenly vision and values become blurred and dull. This often happens even when we are active in our Christian activities, we become so involved in merely doing things for God that we miss the real blessing of enjoying the personal fellowship of Christ Himself in our daily lives.

”I’ve seen the face of Jesus. . . He smiled in love to me;
It filled my heart with rapture, my soul with ecstasy,
The scars of deepest anguish. . . were lost in glory bright
I’ve seen the face of Jesus. . . it was a wondrous sight!
Oh, glorious face of beauty, Oh gentile touch of care;
If here it is so blessed, what will it be up there?”

101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Although this hymn acts as a reminder to us to turn our eyes and minds on the things of Christ, in reality they should always be fixed upon Him. When Peter left the boat and began to walk on the water, he began to sink when he only looked at the waves and took his eyes off the Lord. If I can only learn to look at the circumstances of life with peripheral vision as my eyes are fixed upon Christ, then I will be able to deal more like Him with the everyday cares that haunt me. Jesus left the splendor of heaven, to suffer the shame of the cross for my sins and yours. John 16:4 tells us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

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