Page 5 - Good News July 2005 paper

od is our refuge and
strength, a very present
Ghelp in trouble (Ps. 46:1).
THIS BELOVED GOSPEL SONG
was written by a Chicago
Presbyterian layman, Horatio G.
Spafford. As a young man he
established a most successful
legal practice in Chicago. Yet,
despite his financial success, he
always maintained a keen
interest in Christian activities. He
enjoyed a close, active relation-
ship with D.L. Moody and the
other evangelical leaders of that
era. He was described by George
Stebbins, a noted gospel
musician, as a “man of unusual
intelligence and refinement, Several days later the survivors
deeply spiritual, and a devoted had finally landed at Cardiff,
student of the Scriptures.” Wales, and Mrs Spafford cabled
Some months prior to the her husband, “Saved alone.”
Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford Shortly afterward Spafford left by
had invested heavily in real ship to join his bereaved wife. It is
estate on the shore of Lake speculated that on the sea, near
Michigan, and his holdings were the area where it was thought his
wiped out in the fire. four daughters had drowned,
They had also, just prior to the Spafford wrote this hymn with
fire, experienced the death of words that so significantly
their son. The desire that his wife portray his own personal grief:
and four daughters should have “When sorrows like sea billows
a rest, as well as his wish to join roll...” It is noteworthy, however,
and assist Moody and Sankey in that Spafford does not dwell on
one of their campaigns in Great the theme of life’s sorrows and
Britain, caused Spafford to plan a trials, but focuses attention in the
European trip for his family in third verse on the redemptive
1873. work of Christ, and then in the fifth
An unexpected last minute verse anticipates His glorious
business development meant Second Coming.
that he had to remain in Chicago Humanly speaking, it is amazing
while his wife and four daughters that one could experience such
went on ahead, as scheduled, on personal tragedy and sorrow, as
the S.S. Ville du Havre. did Horatio Spafford, and still be
He expected to follow them a few able to say with such convincing
days later. On November 22 the clarity:
ship was struck by the “Whatever my lot, Thou hast
“Lochearn”, an English vessel, caused me to know: IT IS WELL, IT
and sank in twelve minutes. IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!”
Om jou lewe aan die Here te wy terwyl jy nog jonk is, is baie wys en die
regte begin. Dit laat my dink aan ‘n hemp wat vasgeknoop word. Baie
keer kom jy by die laaste knoopsgat en dan is daar nog ‘n knoop oor.
Wat is die fout? Jy het verkeerd begin! So is dit wanneer jy wag totdat
jy eers oud geword het voordat jy jou lewe aan Jesus oorgee. Jesus
nooi juis die kinders om na Hom te kom. Jy is dus nie te jonk om ‘n
navolger van Jesus te wees nie. Neem vandag nog ‘n besluit om
Jesus die eerste plek in jou lewe te gee, en maak ‘n goeie begin.
Moenie toelaat dat jy eers oud word en dan hierdie besluit neem nie.
Net soos die hemp wat jy van die begin af reg moet vasmaak, is dit
belangrik dat jy ook op ‘n vroeë stadium in jou lewe ‘n regte “begin”
moet hê. Hierdie begin is ‘n nuwe “geboorte” wat ons wedergeboorte
noem, want deur Jesus in jou lewe toe te laat, word jy ‘n nuwe mens en
is Jesus nou die Bestuurder van jou lewe. - Oorgeneem