The tender light of home behind

1. The tender light of home behind,
Dark heathen gloom before,
The servants of the Lord go forth
To many a foreign shore:
But the true light that cannot pale
Streams on them from above,
A light divine, that shall not fail—
The smile of Him they love.

2. The sheltering nest of home behind,
The battlefield before,
They gird their heav’nly armor on,
And seek the foreign shore:
But Christ their captain, with them goes,
He leads them in the way;
With Him they face the mightiest foes,
With Him they win the day.

3. The peaceful joys of home behind,
Danger and death before,
Right cheerfully they set their face
To seek the foreign shore:
For Christ has called, and His dear Word
Brings bliss, whate’er betide;
’Tis not alone—’tis with their Lord
They seek the other side.

4. A wealth of love and prayer behind,
Far-reaching hope before,
The servants of the Lord go forth
To seek a foreign shore:
And wheresoe’er their footsteps move
That hope makes sweet the air;
And all the path is paved with love,
And canopied with prayer.

5. Christ in the fondly-loved behind,
Christ in the bright before,
Oh! blest are they who start with Him
To seek the foreign shore!
Christ is their fair, unfading light,
Christ is their shield and sword,
Christ is their keeper, day and night,
And Christ their rich reward.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6537

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #6537