Watching at the Gate

In his child­ish in­no­cence

’Mid the mer­ry scenes of home

With his play­things ly­ing near him on the floor

Looking up to mo­ther’s eyes

And in sweet­est ac­cents said

I’ll not need my lit­tle play­things any more.

For I’m go­ing to live with Je­sus

In that home be­yond the skies

With its walls be­decked

With jew­els

oh

so rare;

I’ll be watch­ing at the gate

Of the new Je­ru­sa­lem;

Mother dar­ling

You will find me wait­ing there.

Then the mother stooped to him

And as on­ly mo­ther could

Pressed her dar­ling to her bo­som o’er and o’er;

As she fond­ly asked her boy

Why he had so sweet­ly said

I’ll not need my lit­tle play­things any more.

Would you go and leave your ma­ma

And the loved ones here be­low

For that ci­ty

With its jew­els bright and fair?

Then she list­ened for his word

As he whis­pered soft and low

Yes

dear Ma­ma

But you’ll find me watch­ing there.

Soon the an­gel’s sum­mons came

And the lit­tle spir­it fled

Yes

the an­gels bore him to that hap­py shore;

Clad in robes of pur­est white

An eter­ni­ty to spend

With no need of earth­ly play­things any more.

Yes

he went to be with Je­sus

In His home be­yond the skies

With its walls be­decked

With jew­els bright and fair;

He is watch­ing at the gate

Of the new Je­ru­sa­lem

Yes

the loved ones

They will find him watch­ing there.

When your days on earth are o’er

And the sum­mons you shall hear

Will the an­gels bear you to that hap­py land?

Will the ver­dict be well done

Or de­part for­ev­er­more

When be­fore the bar of jus­tice you shall stand?

Will you go and live with Je­sus

In that home be­yond the skies

With its walls be­decked

With jew­els bright and fair?

When the pear­ly gates un­fold

And your loved ones en­ter in

Sister

bro­ther

Will they find you watch­ing there?