Main message: Determine to pursue after God in the new year.

Bible references:

• V1. "patience of hope", "labor of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

• V2. "eternity" (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

• V3. "I have finished the work" (John 17:4)

Keywords: come, journey, hope, love, life, time, year, eternity, Lord, joy, throne

Interpretation notes:

• The hymn opens with a perfect fourth on 'Come, let,' and that interval appears again in the last two phrases on 'By the patience...'. 

• The climax uses a descending pattern from high E-flat to lower E-flat, marked by a fermata. 

• The final phrases place emphasis on the text about improving our talents, the passing of the year, and the words 'Well and faithfully done!'