Sam – I am By Brian Seibert
I met Sam in 2002, as my wife and I were building our home, we needed a good brick layer. I don’t remember exactly how Sam was introduced to us, but I do remember his quality of work, his joyful personality, and the fact that I thought at the time – Sam should have been retired; not because he couldn’t do the work, but I could see that he had worked hard his entire life. I would guess that Sam was in his mid to late 60’s at that time. I realized too that given his large physical frame, work wasn’t something that Sam shied away from, even in his 60’s. I would come home from my day job to work on the house and there Sam would be with his helper, working on the brick. Sam would often sing while he worked, and it was this singing that I now recall, some eighteen years later.
Fast forward eighteen years, and it seems that I have been on a roller coaster looking back at my life. I went from sinner to saint. I started three businesses. I finished a bachelor’s degree. I started seminary. My sons grew up. I began working in the ministry – “part time”. My wife stood by me. How do you unpack eighteen years? My list isn’t complete nor is it in order, but that’s OK.
At year sixteen or seventeen, my wife and I started a graphics business with one of our sons. I have always enjoyed building things, so I decided that I would try to get my son involved in learning something (building something) that I can pass on to him, something that I know a little about. We learned how to “wrap” vehicles. These are the commercial – van/truck’s you see all around town that advertise their business (a wrap). After twenty something years in the sign business, wrapping a vehicle was something new to me too, so the challenge was on.
Almost two years later and I get a text message from one of our customers. His father-in-law has a box trailer that he needed to have decaled – graphics designed and applied. Sam is his name. I knew Sam was his father-in-law, but surely Sam wasn’t working a business now. We went out and measured the trailer, took some pictures for design, and we told our friend that we would get in touch with Sam. A few days later, and I get another text message from my friend. “Can you give Sam a call about the trailer sign please?”. I realized that Sam was in a hurry. What I didn’t realize at that moment was that God was in the midst of things, working, and always at just the right time, God puts all the pieces together. Amen.
Oh yea, the singing. Sam is one of those people you may never come across in your lifetime. I was and am so blessed to know Sam and for him to impart just a little of his life’s work into my ears, I will cherish.
Sam shared with me (sang to me) a song called, “This World is Not My Home”. I was so moved by my conversations with Sam (3 separate conversations) that I wanted to know more about this song he was singing. I looked it up and found some interesting facts. Let me share with you.
This World is Not My Home
Born: October 29, 1905, near Spiro, Oklahoma. Died: November 15, 1977, Springfield, Missouri.
The scripture references for the song are listed as you see. These scriptures point to a future home for all Christians. When we are saved – reborn, we are given the Holy Spirit – a down payment toward a future home we are all eagerly waiting for. God’s people who lived during old testament times – they looked ahead for a promise with faith. This faith is what saved them and is also what saves us today.
God wants all of us to come back to Him, to restore a relationship that was severed by sin. Unfortunately, we are all born into sin and we must be reborn through belief and faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God, who took all our sins to the cross with Him to destroy that bondage. This is how much God loves us all. All God wants is for you and I to come back to Him, as it was in the beginning, before sin entered the world. RESORE your relationship with God. God has made a way. That way is only through Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to look up that song on the tube. Listen to it, and then find a host of other versions sang by other groups. It is a song that will call you back home.
Oh, one other interesting fact that I believe is no accident in this story. The original author Albert E. Brumley; he passed on my birthday. I think God waited all these years for me to discover something about Him, something that would catch my attention and again confirm and remind me, that God works all things for His good, for the good of all of us. What an awesome God we have!! A birthday present that I wouldn’t open for many decades later.
Thank you, Sam, for sharing your life with me, for sharing your strong faith in God with me, for introducing me to a song that says so much. I believe Jesus will look at you one day and say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
God Bless
My favorite so far is this version:
New Jerusalem Baptist Church
1 This world
is not my home, I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Chorus:
O Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
2 They’re
all expecting me, and that’s one thing I know,
My Savior pardoned me and now I onward go;
I know He’ll take me thro’ tho’ I am weak and poor,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. [Chorus]
3 I have a
loving Savior up in glory-land,
I don’t expect to stop until I with Him stand,
He’s waiting now for me in heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. [Chorus]
4 Just up in
glory-land we’ll live eternally,
The saints on every hand are shouting victory,
Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from heaven’s shore,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. [Chorus]
This World Is Not My Home
This world
is not my home I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore
Oh lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven’s not my home then lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore
I have a
loving mother just over in gloryland
And I don’t expect to stop until I shake her hand
She’s waiting now for me in heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore
Oh lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven’s not my home Then lord what will I do
The angels
beckon me From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home In this world anymore
Just over in
gloryland
We’ll live eternally
The saints on every hand are shouting victory
Their songs
of sweetest praise
Drift back from heaven’s shore
And I can’t feel at home In this world anymore
Oh lord, you
know I have no friend like you
If heaven’s not my home Then lord what will I do
The angels
beckon me From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home In this world anymore
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Mary Reeves Davis
This World Is Not My Home lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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