Where Are You Now?

By: Chuck Perry

Where are you now, Brother Joseph, so dear?
The gospel has dimmed some since you were here.
Son of the martyr, long since gone,
Tenderly, tenderly, you led us on,
Through trials and conflict, though bowed with age.
Where are you now, dear venerable sage?

Where are you now, Brother Elbert, so dear?
The gospel has dimmed some since you were here.
Revered by the members, loved 'til the end,
For decades you served us as father and friend.
The words of the Master, enlivened by you,
Sank deep in our hearts, we knew they were true.

Where are you now, Brother Arthur, so dear?
The gospel has dimmed more since you were here.
The power of God’s spirit, so grandly displayed,
Through your ministry, now has quietly laid,
Buried in darkness, ambition, and sin.
How can we climb from the abyss that we’re in?

Where are you now, my Grandad, so dear?
The gospel has dimmed much since you were here.
Penned by your own hand, your words still say,
"Listen, my child, ‘God Speaks Today!’"
Oh! For a moment to sit at your feet
To hear of God’s mercy, my Savior to meet.

Where are you now, my father, so dear?
The light? Nearly gone now since you were here.
Your tender compassion, your loving embrace,
Empowered me once to begin this long race.
But now I am weary. The race is so long.
Gone from my heart is the heavenly song.

Down through the ages, the stalwarts were here
To bring us the gospel, to carry us near
To the throne of the Master, to the throne of our Lord,
By living His life, by living His word.
But now there are none to carry me through
This time of confusion. What shall I do?

From father to son, to each generation,
The gospel of love, of peace and salvation
Is gently rehearsed and lovingly told.
Implanted and nurtured in youth, by the old.
Where are the ancients? Now who will they be?
For lack of another, I pray ‘twill be me.