The chimes of time ring out the news;

Another day is through.

Someone slipped and fell.

Was that someone you?

You may have longed for added strength,

Your courage to renew.

Do not be disheartened,

For I bring hope to you

(Chorus)

It is no secret what God can do.

What He’s done for others,

He’ll do for you.

With arms wide open,

He’ll pardon you,

It is no secret what God can do.

(Verse 2)

There is no night, for in His light

You’ll never walk alone.

Always feel at home

Wherever you may roam.

There is no power can conquer you,

While God is on your side.

Just take Him at His promise;

Don’t run away and hide.

These words were written by Stuart Hamblen, the same man who gave us such memorable lyrics as “I won’t go hunt with you Jake, but I’ll go chasin’ women.”

Hamblen was born early in the last century and grew up in a Christian family.  However, as he got into his career as a songwriter and actor, his life went a long way from his upbringing.  His song, “I Won’t go Huntin’ With you Jake, but I’ll go Chasin’ Women” seemed to sum up the kind of life he was living.  He described himself as the “original juvenile delinquent,” living a life of drinking and gambling and often needing to be bailed out of jail by the sponsors of his highly popular radio show.

That all changed on a night in 1949 when he reached a point of repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ.  He changed his life’s direction and began to follow Christ.  It was a short time later that he met another actor, John Wayne, who invited Hamblen to join him for a drink.  When he refused, John asked him what was up with this change in his life and Hamblen explained the difference was that now he was a follower of Christ.  As they continued to talk, Hamblen remarked, “You know John, it is no secret what God can do.”  John agreed and said, “You should write a song about that.”  Shortly thereafter, in 1950, the song was born.  It was followed by some other hits such as “This Old House” and “Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sunshine In.”

The reason I tell this story is that I am sure that there are many others who can relate.  Their lives may have been messed up in the same way as Stuart Hamblen, or in some other way, but they recognized the folly of what they were doing and turned from it to God.  What we have done makes no difference.  Paul says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  The beauty of this is that, no matter what we have done or what kind of a mess we have made of our lives Jesus can straighten it out.  As soon as he says we have all sinned, Paul affirms that God put forth Jesus for our redemption and to satisfy God’s justice by the shedding of his blood (Romans 3:24-25).

The power is in the blood of Jesus.  Paul had seen this in his own life when he was told, “And now why do you wait?  Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).  David talked about what God could do in Psalm 51:7 when he says, “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”  It is no secret what God can do, what he’s done for me, he’ll do for you and anyone else who will come to him.

 In the communion we are saying to ourselves and to each other, “It is no secret what God can do.  What He has done for me, he’ll do for you.”  The scriptures make it clear that this is the message we proclaim as we look back to Jesus’ death and forward to his return (1 Corinthians 11:26).