Click away to find all you need, including:
- The story of how I wrote it.
- The chord chart, and a string quartet arrangement can be found here.
- A piano arrangement can be found in Singing the New Testament and Contemporary Songs for Worship. (http://www.faithaliveresources.org/Worship/Songbooks)
PLEASE let me know how the Lord is using this song in your life and at your church. I’ve tracked it to Germany (including a translation) and Italy so far.
UPDATE: Here’s two videos that people have made with the song. Video #1, and Video #2.
The First Place
Jesus, the perfect picture of the unseen God
Maker of things we cannot comprehend.
Wisdom, the earth displays Your strength and beauty.
Sovereign, yes, every throne knows You are God.
Chorus
Every inch of this universe belongs to You, O Christ.
For through You and for You it was made.
Your creation endures by the order of Your hand.
So You must have in all things the first place.
Victor, over sin and death You triumphed.
Firstborn, You’ve shown us life beyond the grave.
Bridegroom, we long for You in expectation.
Jesus, Your church rejoices to proclaim.
© 1999 Matthew Westerholm
This is a great song, Matthew. I go to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota. We sang it at church on Sunday and I went right home and looked for the mp3 so I could download it. No dice. I see that you have “The Sacrifice” here (which we sang last Sunday). I really appreciate the way that you present solid Reformed theology in a worshipful setting. Thanks for your work on behalf of the kingdom and His church.
Hey Matthew,
I am so glad I found this website. We sang this song my freshman year at Cedarville University in Ohio and it blew me away. Hearing it sung by 3,000 plus brothers and sisters was truly a glimpse of Heaven as we all surround the throne of Jesus Christ and Worship the one who Lives forever and ever! It was Awesome and has very literally echoed in my mind these last four years. We only sang it for our Bible conference that first year and never again. I couldn’t find it any where. Finally, today I found it again! This is an awesome, true and powerful song, thank you for worshiping the Pre-Emincance of Christ!
-Chris
PS are there any other copies of congregations singing this song? I love the way it sounds with a huge amount of people singing it.
Thanks, Chris. The recording from “Here and Now” has a congregation join in (at 2:12). Hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fQJPsnhZwA. (The nature sounds are NOT part of the original recording.)
I know at least two other churches have recorded the song, but have not heard their recordings.