GOSPEL TRUTH: “The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago”
Looking at Frank M Graham’s Gospel Song…..
THE OLD ACCOUNT WAS SETTLED
There was a time on earth, when in the book of Heav’n
An old account was standing, for sins yet unforgiv’n;
My name was at the top, and many things below,
I went unto the Keeper, and settled long ago.
Refrain
Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),
Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);
And the record’s clear today, for He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.
The old account was large, and growing every day,
For I was always sinning, and never tried to pay;
But when I looked ahead, and saw such pain and woe,
I said that I would settle, and settled long ago.
When at the judgment bar, I stand before my King,
And He the books will open, He cannot find a thing;
Then will my heart be glad, while tears of joy will flow
Because I had it settled, and settled long ago.
When in that happy home, my Saviour’s home above,
I’ll sing redemption’s story, and praise Him for His love;
I’ll not forget that book, with pages white as snow,
Because I came and settled, and settled long ago.
O sinner, seek the Lord, repent of all your sin,
For thus He has commanded, if you would enter in;
And then if you should live a hundred years below,
Up there you’ll not regret it, you settled long ago.
THE OLD ACCOUNT WAS SETTLED
Frank M. Graham was born on the 1st March, 1859, in Birmingham, Illinois. His ancestors had originated from north-west Ulster but had emigrated to the U.S.A. He had an interest in revival and wrote many hymns, the best known of which is probably The old account was settled long ago – written in 1902. He served as a Wesleyan Methodist minister and died in Georgia on the 25th August 1931 at the age of 72. The hymn referred to above is a powerful Gospel song with a catchy melody and has often been performed by soloists and groups. The words convey an important message and are Frank Graham’s personal testimony. We are going to consider them.
There was a time on earth, when in the book of Heav’n
An old account was standing, for sins yet unforgiv’n;
My name was at the top, and many things below,
I went unto the Keeper, and settled long ago.
In this first stanza Frank Graham looks back to a time when his sins condemned him. The Bible makes it clear (Romans 3:23) that we are all sinners by nature and by practice. God, our Creator, knows all about us and has a record of our lives. One day those who have died unforgiven will stand before Him and will be “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev.20:12). Our misdeeds have all been recorded in Heaven and are like items which accumulate to form a debt.
Imagine a countryman from the last century entering a store which he had often used. He had obtained a number of goods on credit, waiting (with the agreement of the shop-keeper) to pay for those goods at a future time when he had received money from the sale of his crops. The harvest has been gathered in, and his bank balance has increased. Aware of the debt which needed to be paid off the man enters the store, greets the shop-keeper, and says, “I’ve come to settle up.” The shop-keeper opens his ledger and looks at the items which were supplied on credit and tells his customer of the balance that is owing. The amount is paid and the two men part amicably.
That analogy may be helpful, but it falls somewhat short of the truth conveyed in the first stanza. While it is true that we are indebted to God for His goodness to us and His bountiful provision for our needs, “the book of Heav’n” contains a record of our sins – whether in thought, word, or deed. Because God is holy, those sins deserve a just punishment. We have little idea of their magnitude. The sins which we have committed are “many” and each of us, personally, is responsible. God is “the Keeper” of the records, and it is to Him that we must go when that account has not been cleared or closed.
The old account was large, and growing every day,
For I was always sinning, and never tried to pay;
But when I looked ahead, and saw such pain and woe,
I said that I would settle, and settled long ago.
Frank Graham was aware of his own sin and of the fact that he was continuing to transgress. As he “was always sinning” he was constantly accruing a greater debt. Until this moment he had been somewhat indifferent and had “never tried to pay,” but something had changed his perspective. He had been made aware of the future and of the “pain and woe” of Hell ahead of him. This impressed upon him the urgency of settling the debt for which he was personally responsible – and this he had done “long ago”. We might well ask the question, “How was the debt settled?” The answer is found in the words of the refrain:-
Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),
Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);
And the record’s clear today, for He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.
In these words Frank Graham now looks back to the time when he knelt in prayer before the Lord Jesus Christ, humbly confessed his sin and guilt, and asked for pardon. Those words, “The old account was settled long ago” have a double meaning. Not only did he kneel in prayer “long ago”, but “the old account” was actually settled through a transaction which occurred “long ago” too. Some 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus died upon the cross for sinners and made it possible for all who trust Him to be forgiven. “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn.1:7). On the cross the Lord Jesus bore the judgment which we deserved. Through His sacrifice and the shedding of His precious blood our sins can be washed away. No wonder the forgiven sinner cries “Hallelujah!” (meaning Praise the Lord) in thinking of these things!
When at the judgment bar, I stand before my King,
And He the books will open, He cannot find a thing;
Then will my heart be glad, while tears of joy will flow
Because I had it settled, and settled long ago.
In this stanza Frank Graham looks ahead to the time when, beyond this life, he will stand before the Lord. When the books are opened and the account beneath his name is examined, there will be no incriminating record. The page will be completely blank! How could this be? The reason is that “the old account was settled long ago” – during his life on earth when he came to the Lord Jesus. What joy and gladness would fill his heart in that coming day!
When in that happy home, my Saviour’s home above,
I’ll sing redemption’s story, and praise Him for His love;
I’ll not forget that book, with pages white as snow,
Because I came and settled, and settled long ago.
The theme of praise continues in this further stanza and introduces us to the fact that there is a “home” belonging to our Saviour where His people will dwell with Him. God’s people in heaven are described as being cleansed from sin and are heard praising their Redeemer. “Worthy is the Lamb!” they cry (Rev.5:12).
SETTLE IT NOW!
O sinner, seek the Lord, repent of all your sin,
For thus He has commanded, if you would enter in;
And then if you should live a hundred years below,
Up there you’ll not regret it, you settled long ago.
This Gospel song is more than simply a testimony: it is an appeal. The final stanza addresses us all. If we “would enter in” to heaven, we must repent of our sin. Repentance is given little emphasis nowadays, but unless we repent we will surely perish (Lk.13:5). In fact we are commanded by God to repent of our sin (Acts 17:30). We cannot be half-hearted about the matter; we must repent of all our sin and be prepared to turn from it. A long life on earth cannot be guaranteed, but even if we were to reach the age of 100 we would not regret turning to Christ.
“Seek ye the LORD while He may be found” (Isa.55:6). The Bible, like this song, addresses us as sinners. We must seek Him in prayer as Frank Graham did. Humbly kneel before Him and ask Him to cleanse you from your sin through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we refuse the invitation, nothing but “pain and woe” lies ahead. Those who receive the Lord as Saviour will never regret turning to Him. They will praise Him eternally for His great salvation. All who read these words are invited to come in their need to the Lord Jesus.