O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are!
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The enduring hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," presented here in a rendition by Sounds Like Reign, offers a message of profound spiritual guidance and comfort. Released with an accompanying video on March 26, 2020, this version brings the timeless words to contemporary listeners, inviting them to find solace and perspective amidst life's challenges. The lyrics directly address the soul that is weary and troubled, feeling lost in darkness, pointing immediately towards the promise of light and abundant, free life available through simply looking to the Savior.
The central message of the song is powerfully encapsulated in its chorus: focusing one's gaze fully upon Jesus and His wonderful face. This act of intentional focus is presented as transformative. The lyrics describe a remarkable outcome: the things of earth, which can often preoccupy and burden, will grow strangely dim when viewed in contrast with the brilliance of Christ's glory and grace. This highlights a spiritual principle where shifting one's perspective from worldly concerns to the divine presence changes one's perception of reality and priorities.
Beyond the initial comfort and reframing of earthly troubles, the song also speaks to the victory found in Christ. It references passage through death into everlasting life, a path followers are invited to tread. The lyrics declare freedom from the dominion of sin, asserting that believers are "more than conquerors." This speaks to the finished work of Christ and the empowering reality of salvation, moving from a state of struggle and defeat to one of triumph and spiritual strength through His power.
The hymn concludes with a call to faith and action, promising that His Word will not fail those who believe and trust that all will be well. This trust leads to a commission: to take this message of perfect salvation to a world described as dying. It serves as both an encouragement to rest in God's promises and an inspiration to share the hope found in Jesus with others, extending the light and life received to those still searching.
Several scripture references resonate strongly with the themes presented in the lyrics. The idea of light in darkness is a prominent biblical image, found in passages like John 8:12 where Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The promise of abundant life echoes Jesus' words in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." The core instruction to "turn your eyes upon Jesus" and "look full in His wonderful face" aligns with Hebrews 12:2, which encourages believers to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." The experience of earthly things growing dim in the light of Christ's glory relates to the apostle Paul's perspective in Philippians 3:7-8, where he considers his former achievements as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus. The victory over sin is a key theme in Romans, particularly in Romans 6:14 which states, "For sin shall no longer be your master," and Romans 8:37 which declares believers are "more than conquerors through him who loved us." Finally, the call to tell the world of salvation is a direct reflection of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20.
