As we think of some songs, they bring back memories of times where they helped us and gave us strength. For me, one such song is “In Christ Alone”.
There was a time back in 2020-2021 where there was great fear here in Zambia including here in Ikelenge. Unknown persons were spraying poisonous deadly gas into people’s homes and some were dying because of it. Communities took things into their own hands and organized bands of youth to roam around and run to wherever there was a call for help. It was certainly a fearful time and the whole country was tense.
Who was doing it? Why were they doing it? What was behind it? Will I be next? So many questions were in the minds of the people.
I remember one day while a curfew was in force so that no-one was allowed to make unnecessary movements at night. I was sitting quietly in the house listening to my music and working, periodically hearing shouts in the night as the bands of youth made their rounds. Shortly after I heard a great amount of shouting as people rushed to a scene of another gassing incident, the son “In Christ Alone” started to play. I enjoy the song very much and was singing along when a phrase in the last verse stood out to me, spoke into the situation around me and brought God’s peace. It reads:
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
How true those words are because they are truths that are found in God’s Word! (John 10:29, Romans 8:37-39)
I was listening to “In Christ Alone”, sung by Adrienne Liesching but it was written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. Here is the full song and a brief description of the authors afterwards:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of ChristNo guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
About the song: “In Christ Alone” (taken from Lyrics.com)
“In Christ Alone” is a popular modern Christian song written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, both songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music in the United Kingdom. The song, with a strong Irish melody, is the first hymn they penned together. The music was by Getty and the original lyrics by Townend. It was composed in 2001. “In Christ Alone” is considered a Christian credal song for belief in Jesus Christ. The theme of the song is the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and that he is God whom even death cannot hold. The song is commonly known as “In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found)” and “In Christ Alone (I Stand)” taking verses from the song.
