It Is Well With My Soul

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  (Romans 8:18)

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio G. Spafford

1820-1888

I

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

II

Though Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

III

My sin-oh, the bliss of this glorious tho't:

My sin not in part, but the whole

Is nail'd to the cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

IV

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be roll'd back as a scroll,

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

"Even so," it is well with my soul.

Chorus:

It is well with my soul, It is well,

It is well with my soul

Horatio G. Spafford, a lawyer and a businessman from Chicago, wrote this beloved hymn. He was born in North Troy New York, on October 20, 1828. Along with his financial success, he always maintained active relationship in Christian activities. He was noted as a man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scripture.

Some months prior to Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate in the shores of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by this disaster. Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in November of 1873. Due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago, but he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later, the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone." Shortly afterward Spafford left by ship to join her bereaved wife. It is thought that on the sea near the area where his four daughters had drowned, Spafford penned this text whose words so significantly describe his own personal grief - "When sorrows like sea billows roll."

It is notewothy however, that Spafford's hymn does not dwell on the theme of life's sorrows and trials but focuses attention in the third stanza on the redemptive work of Christ and in the fourth stanza anticipates his glorious Second Coming. Humanly speaking, it is amazing that one could experience such personal tragedies and sorrows as Horatio did and still be able to say with such convincing clarity "It is well with my soul."

Phillip P. Bliss, in 1876, impressed with Spafford's experience and expression of text short wrote the music for it. In 1881, Spafford left Chicagowith their two daughters and settled in Holy Land of Jerusalem. Horatio died at the age of sixty. (Text taken from Kenneth W. Osbeck's 101 Hymn Stories p.126).

Today this hymn is already a church song widely sang by many churches all over the world for many years. Sometimes I cry every time this song is being played in our Church. It reminds me of my griefs, my sadness too..like Horatio's . But thanks to God...thanks to Horatio. The song soothes my soul...yes... it is well with my soul.

Unchanging Reasons for Thanksgiving

“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”  (Hebrew 13:5)

I - Our  Savior  – We thank God for His ABIDING presence. This is one of the reasons not to change our way of always thanking God. Because He did not leave nor forsake us.  He said “and lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20).  “Fear thou not for I am with thee.. I will strengthen thee...I will help thee...I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”(Isaiah 41:10). We thank God for His ASSISTING presence.  He is a loving, faithful, wise and active helper. “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:6). And we thank God for His ANCHORING presence. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8).

II – Our Salvation – Jesus is the PRICE to redeem our salvation.  “Wherefore that Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.’ (Hebrews 13:12).  “For by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves, not of works lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9). GRACE means God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus suffered PAIN  when He said :“this is my body which is given for you.” (Luke 22:19-20). “They put crown of thorns upon His head.” (Matthew 27:29).  All these He did PURPOSELY to sanctify us. “That He might sanctify the people.” (Hebrews 13:12).  We gain POSITION in our salvation. “ Therefore there is now  no condemnation to them which are Christ Jesus.”  (Romans 8:1). “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). We are always PROGRESSIVE in our faith. “But grow in grace, in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 3:18). And we were finally PERFECTED. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).

III- Our Sanctuary – We thank God because He promised us our permanent place in heaven not any city of the world.  “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Hebrews 13:14). Heaven is a GENUINE place.  Heaven is a REAL place. “In my father’s house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told.” (John 14:2).  Heaven is a RESIDING place.  “ I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:3).  Heaven is a RESTING place.  “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours.” (Revelation 14:13). Heaven is GLORIOUS place  In its BEAUTY and BLESSINGS and in the PRESENCE with God. “God is with men, and he will dwell with them.”  (Revelation 21:3).  Heaven is guarded from SORROW.  Note the words “No More.” No more sea, no more sadness, no more sleep (death), no more suffering, no more sundown (night). “And God shall wipe away all tears  from their eyes;  and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither there shall be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  (Revelation 21:4).

(From Rev. Teofilito Arevalo Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

“Where is Abel thy brother?”  And Cain said, “I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?”  (Genesis 4:9)

The background of this great Bible question was the murder of  Abel  by his brother Cain.  God knows that  Cain murdered Abel.   God gave Cain a chance to confess his crime.  But Cain did not tell the truth.

Cain said “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  There are many things we can learn from Cain and Abel.

1.     We also tell lies to God and we do not keep our brothers.

2.    Cain was jealous with Abel because God favoured Abel.  We are sometimes full of envy and jealousy when favors are not given to us by our friends.

3.   God favoured Abel because Abel’s offering to God is with humility and true faith. Cain’s offering to God was given in pride. “God opposes the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”  (James 4:6).    We give God not the best but the left-overs! We do not work hard and honestly.

4.     God gave the best for us His only son Jesus but we gave God the second class. Abel’s offering was the spotless Lamb.  We offer God worn-out or torn clothes like rags.

Are we our brothers’ keepers? Are you and I responsible to the needs of  other people? Is it our job to feed the hungry? Do we owe anything to the orphans? And the widows?  Is it our job to minister the sick? If Christians engage in sin, is it our job to speak to them?  Are we responsible for helping them to guide them away from the sin and back to righteous living?

The answer is Yes!   As Christians we are indeed our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers!  “Visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction .” (James 1:27)  Our faith is dead if we give nothing to our brothers. (James 2:15-17).  “Let us love in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18).   Whenever we come across a person in need, we must realise this is a Divine Appointment.  God  is calling us to join Him. “We must love and defend the fatherless and widow, loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.”  (Deuteronomy 10:18).

“Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free,  give bread to the poor and hungry, the strange shelter, the naked thou cover him.”  (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Ask yourself:  What do I need to give God?  Is God calling me to join a church group where I can offer Him my time and talents to be used in ministry to the hurting and lost people of this world?  Does my attitude towards all the needy people around me,  my neighbours and co-workers, even beggars who I avoid in the street, need to change?   The way we should live is by “keeping our brothers” selflessly loving and caring for others.

(From Dr. Derek Stringer’s Great Bible Questions)