“From the cross the radiance streaming adds new luster to the day.”

“From the cross the radiance streaming adds new luster to the day.”
Hymn: “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” – John Bowring (1792-1872)
Typical Tune: RATHBUN (also OXFORD/STAINER)

Ever have a nice piece of nice furniture that has simply lost its shine? The wooden surface seems dried up and drab? Needs some help? That’s what this hymnline is about: not furniture, of course – but lives!

On those days when life has lost its sheen, a focusing on the cross and the One who hung there may be the remedy. Looking up from what has dulled your day, surveying once again the wondrous cross – this may well bring a renewed luster to your day… to your life in general.

Those less-than-glossy furniture surfaces have most likely become that way due to neglect. We forget to polish them regularly and renew their gleam and expose the beauty of their grain. Unless they are beyond revival, most surfaces can be re-enlivened with a little elbow grease and a bottle of furniture polish.

I recall a television commercial from my growing-up years that featured a troop of kerchiefed ladies revitalizing the wooden pews of a church. [I think it was Murphy's Oil?] I’m sure I could apply this look-back-to-the-cross analogy to churches who have lost their brilliance… or have abandoned their first love!

There is no reason for any of us believers to continue in a lackluster life. We were meant to have life and have it more abundantly – with more shine than those who lack faith-based intentions. We need to go from satin finish to low gloss to high gloss! We need to have the glow of our salvation restored!

This hymnline reminds us that we can return to the beginning-place of our faith: the Man on the cross. He has plenty of elbow grease available in his mighty, everlasting arms, and my bet is that he would be more than delighted to do a re-shine… and not just to our surface, but deep down where the real gleam may have disappeared.

His radiance adds luster – what a good thought to take with you through this day.


A congregational singing of this hymn (RATHBUN tune)