Make Hymns New, Bringing Back what was Lost: A look at I Have Decided to Follow Jesus...

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus is a hymn whose lyrics are based on a man from India whose lived in Garo, Assam. This hymn was written over 150 years ago. this all started in whales where there was a great revival. As the fruits of what was happening in that revival, many missionaries traveled to North-East India to Preach the Gospel. the place where this hymn was created was Assam which is a region that makes up many tribes. In the communities, these Welsh missionaries visited they were not welcomed with open arms and not treated with love. But one of the missionaries who were Welsh was able to bring to the kingdom one man and wife and two kids. this angered the people who were in charge of the tribe, and they brought the man to where they were and told him to denounce his faith or face death. Taken by the holy spirit he came up with these lyrics that are still famous to this day. he sang:  "I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.” the leaders were mad that he would not denounce his faith so he called for his sons to be shot. the leader asked if he would denounce his faith now seeing his sons on the floor scared. The man responded to the leaders and said Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back. the leaders were frustrated that the man would not denounce his Faith, so they brought his wife, and his wife and kids were killed instantly. as he was probably about to die for not denouncing his faith, he spoke out the final words saying "The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.” the man was killed like the rest of the family but out of that a great revelation took place in the village. the leader who was moved by what had taken place by the man who would not denounce his faith came to faith that day. in turn, the whole village that day accepts Christ as their lord and savior.

The entire lyrics of the song, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus by Nokseng:

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus,
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, No turning back.

4. The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

The biblical significance of what I gathered is that this song is to say that have decided to follow Jesus and we get to be with Jesus all the days of our life in eternity. The Bible is riddled with verses about people deciding to follow Jesus and Eternity with Jesus. 

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:22

But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, Matthew 12:15

Just a few verses for you to look at and see the significance of the Hymn. all Bible verses taken from the NASB

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus:

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/tommy-walker-generation-hymns-3-feat-bethesda-music/pl.u-XkD0j2BSDDWr1x