The evangelist Frank Knox (1884-1975) preached annually for many years in a large Tent in Belfast to thousands of people. His labours were blessed with many souls being awakened and delivered, even when World War 2 raged on. In the 18th year of his Belfast Tent meetings, Mr Knox recounted his story of conversion. Towards the end of his testimony he quoted, likely from memory, most of his own poem H.A.T.H., which summarises how he was saved on the roof of a building in Co Donegal, Ireland, through the words of John 3:36, “He that believeth hath”. Here is his poem in full:
I love to speak of Jesus – that name how sweet it sounds,
Oh, tell it out ye faithful to earth’s remotest bounds;
I love to speak of Jesus and what He did for me,
’Twas in the year 1905, September twenty three.
I do remember well one day when out on pleasure bent,
I got an invitation to a meeting in a tent;
So just to please that person I decided to go in,
No love for God or Christ had I, for I was dead in sin.
I was careless and indifferent whene’er I entered there,
But ere that meeting ended I was almost in despair;
John chapter 3 and verse 18, was the text the speaker chose,
When scenes of death and judgment before my vision rose.
“Condemned already,” fearful words, they fixed me to the seat,
Struck terror to me when I thought ’tis God I have to meet;
Four weeks I struggled in the dark, and light I could not see,
I longed to know how to be saved, and from my sins be free.
I then left Belfast City for the County Donegal,
And the God of grace was with me, and He overruled it all;
For whilst engaged at work one day a letter I received,
And as I read its contents o’er, I on the Lord believed.
H-A-T-H: those letters four were simply underlined,
I just took in what God had said, and made His promise mine;
Now many years have gone since then, but Christ remains the same,
Eternal life He gives to those who trust His blessed name.
Saved by the blood of Jesus, kept by His power alone,
This my glorious privilege – seeking to make Him known;
And when I see my Jesus I’ll praise His blessed name,
For the grace that stooped and saved me from sin and hell and shame.
Oh, sinners come to Jesus, He’ll make your life anew,
And then at home in glory you’ll praise Jesus too;
Yes, you and I together, in heavenly mansions bright,
Will praise the Lord that saved us from death and hell and night.
Oh, sinners don’t reject Him, but trust Him now to-day,
Hast thou not travelled long enough the broad and crowded way?
In grace He waits to save you from dark impending doom,
And take you home to be with Him in His eternal home.
And so I came to Jesus while standing on the roof,
And in this good old Bible I have the glorious proof;
While passing through this wilderness of sin and woe and strife,
He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36)
