I don’t know if anyone will be reading this today or not, but if you are, I wanted to post some lyrics I wrote about 20 years ago. We were working on an independent project with a vocalist named Kathy Sinni, and wanted an “all year round” Christmas song for the recording. A song that included the birth of Christ, but explored what happened both before and after that event. The result was the song, In the First Light, recorded by GLAD on two of their a cappella CD’s. I pray it will be an encouragement to you.

In the first light of a new day no one knew he had arrived
Things continued as they had been while a newborn softly cried
But the heavens wrapped in wonder knew the meaning of his birth
In the weakness of a baby they knew God had come to earth

As his mother held him closely it was hard to understand
That her baby, not yet speaking, was the word of God to man
He would tell them of his kingdom but their hearts would not believe
They would hate him and in anger they would nail him to a tree

But the sadness would be broken as the song of life arose
And the firstborn of creation would ascend and take his throne
He had left it to redeem us but before his life began
He knew he’d come back, not as a baby, but as the Lord of every man

Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth
But how much greater will our song be when he comes again to earth
Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth
But how much greater will our song be when he comes to rule the earth!

May the gift of the Savior Himself be your greatest joy, today and every day.

10 Comments »

1. Yes I am reading today… and yes, that song defintely was an encouragement. I’ve been listening to that song for years… had no idea you wrote it. Thanks for pen-ning those wonderful truths about the Incarnation.

   Comment by Dan — December 25, 2005 @ 12:19 pm

2. I’m reading today, too…just checked in case there was something new! And I asked for and received for Christmas the book you recommend over on the side, True Worship by Vaughan Roberts, which I’m looking forward to reading. Merry Christmas!

   Comment by Lindele — December 25, 2005 @ 3:15 pm

3. Thanks Bob!

   Merry Christmas to you and your family!

   Comment by Kyle — December 25, 2005 @ 11:57 pm

4. My family really appreciates that song, Bob. We listened to it on Christmas Eve. Praise be to God for it and thanks. The tune and the music style also make this song accessible to a wide variety of churches and worship traditions. Were you also responsible for the music? Please write more songs like this that can transcend the ’style’ barriers.

   Comment by Dan Lucarini — December 27, 2005 @ 8:45 pm

5. To Dan:

   Thanks for your encouragement, Dan. I wrote the music to First Light as well. I was trying to do something much simpler than the typical GLAD song…

   Although I think God is glorified through a variety of musical styles, I’m committed to writing more songs that transcend generational boundaries and can be sung by old and young alike. We need them so that we may “with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” ( Rom. 15:6Romans 15:6
   [6]that together you may with one voice glorify the God
   and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

   This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

   )

   Thanks again for your meaningful encouragement.

   Comment by Bob Kauflin — December 28, 2005 @ 1:56 pm

6. Bob,
   Without a doubt, this song is by far my favorite all-time Christmas song and I would argue one of the best ever written in our time. It tells the whole story in a sincere and passionate way like no other song I’ve ever heard. Folks are always provoked and responsive when we do it, whether they are singing it or just listening to the choir. Thanks for writing it!

   Comment by Todd Humphrey — December 30, 2005 @ 12:03 am

7. Bob,

   I turned 30 this year and for the first time I’m identifying with things people say were 20 years ago! I remember hearing this song when I was 10, before I had ever picked up a guitar, before I had ever led a song in worship, and I still remember being taken by it. I look forward to tracking it down, maybe on iTunes (boy how things have changed in 20 years).

   Patrick

   Comment by Patrick Donohue — December 30, 2005 @ 11:14 am

8. My dad, brother, sister, and I (who love to sing together) have sung this song yearly….and through-out the year as well. We even attempt our “GLAD version” of the song….our favorite part being at the conclusion of the song ‘When He comes to rule…..the earth!” Praise be to our King, and thanks for being an instrument in the hands of our King to share with all of us that song.

   Comment by Abby — January 5, 2006 @ 3:21 pm

9. Bob I enjoy the song “In the First Light” I have been listening to it for years. My Children sing it in their school chorus. Recently the chorus was singing at a local church and some of the members where offended by the line in the song. “When He comes to rule the earth”. The ones that where offended say that this line is in reference to Christ setting up a kingdom here on earth that he will reign for 1000 years. I am not sure if that is what you are talking about. Could you clear this up for me? Paul

   Comment by Paul Hayes — May 9, 2008 @ 12:14 pm

10. Paul,

    Thanks for asking. Always fascinates me how people understand lyrics through a filter. That line is a reference to the fact that Christ’s rule will be unchallenged when he returns. Holding to an amillenialist perspective, I definitely wasn’t talking about Jesus coming to set up a thousand year reign. But I understand 1 Thess. 4:13-171 Thessalonians 4:13-17
    [13]But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,
    about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as
    others do who have no hope. [14]For since we believe that
    Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will
    bring with him those who have fallen asleep. [15]For this
    we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are
    alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not
    precede those who have fallen asleep. [16]For the Lord
    himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command,
    with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the
    trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
    [17]Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up
    together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
    air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)

    This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

    to mean that Jesus is coming back to earth and that all things will be made new, and we will reign eternally with him ( Rev. 22:5Revelation 22:5
    [5]And night will be no more. They will need no light of
    lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they
    will reign forever and ever. (ESV)

    This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

    ).

    Is that helpful?

    Comment by Bob Kauflin — May 9, 2008 @ 1:00 pm

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