By Sandra Gilkerson
WHY Do You Wait?  by George F. Root (1820 – 1895)
Why do you wait dear brother, Oh, why do you tarry so long?
Your Savior is waiting to give you a place in His sanctified throng.
What do you hope, dear brother, to gain by a further delay?
There’s no one to save you but Jesus, there’s no other way but His way.
Do you not feel dear brother, His Spirit now striving within?
Oh, why not accept His salvation, and throw off the burden of sin.
Why do you wait, dear brother. The harvest is passing away.
Your Savior is longing to bless you, there’s danger and death in delay.
Why not? Â why not? Â Why not come to Him now?
Why not? Why not? Why not come to Him now?
Why do you wait dear brother? I ask that question to those who continue to say no to asking Christ to be their Savior. I have a friend, named Rita, who lives in California.
Her husband “Fred” is very sick with cancer. He has been on Hospice since December.
They both need prayer. (Thanks). Rita and Fred married over 50 years ago knowing that he was not a Christian, She believed in time that he would accept Jesus and they would go to church together and raise their four children in a Christian home. No to be. She continues to go to church alone. She continues to pray for him. Fred was suppose to die months ago according to the doctor. What is Fred waiting for – will he evidentially die alone without Jesus to help him, to save him, to comfort him? Why would a person turn down the chance to be with God for all eternity?
Do you know a “Fred”? Let’s pray for Fred. Pray that someone will keep trying to reach him and not give up or someone new to come by and get his attention to hear and accept the good news that Jesus loves him, and this we know, because the Bible tells us so! Let God prepare Fred’s heart and the “Fred’s hearts” that you know so that this will come to pass.
George Root, the author of this song wrote many songs. During the War between the states, he began to write patriotic songs for the Union war effort. Religion shaped Root’s music, both sacred and secular. Attending opera or theater productions conflicted with religious and moral beliefs of the times, so Root, like others, developed the cantata as a dramatic musical piece that was moral. He was instrumental in getting music classes into public schools, something unheard of until the late 1830’s.
