Two songs, Amazing Grace and I’ll Fly Away are said to be the most chosen music for memorial services (and many other public events) for decades.
Besides the wonderful music, what is it about these two songs that make them so popular among Christians and non-christians, alike?
I believe both songs show the composers’ great faith in God and their belief in heaven as the final abode for believers. In fact, 80-90% of their lyrics speak directly to that point.
It may be the remaining percentage, 10-20%, coupled with the uplifting music, that makes them popular to thousands.
Consider this portion of the lyrics from Amazing Grace, written by Englishman, John Newton:
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
And this, from I’ll Fly Away by Hezekiah Walker:
One glad morning
When this life is over
I’ll fly away
I surmise from these, that the heart yearns for peace and joy at life’s end—the hearts of all human beings, even those who have not professed faith in Jesus Christ.
Today, let our prayer be for salvation for everyone who will believe. May they indeed experience an eternal life of joy and peace.