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Truth Speak Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Is it Well? “…sorrowful yet always rejoicing…poor yet making many rich…having nothing yet possessing all things.” -2 Corinthians 6:10 Though God puts each one of us through different circumstances and situations in life, all who desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, will know the reality of the above verse, to various degrees, as they journey through life. Horatio Spafford knew it quite well. By the age of forty-three Horatio had undergone more tragedy that most can imagine. He and his wife were still grieving over the death of their son when he suffered financial disaster in his business as a result of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Thinking that a family vacation would help relieve the stress he decided to take his wife and four daughters to England. Because he had business to finish up, he sent his family ahead and he would join them in England a few days later. While his wife and four daughters were traveling across the Atlantic Ocean on the SS Ville du Havre, it was struck by another vessel and sank within twelve minutes. Two hundred and twenty-six people died – including Horatio’s four daughters. Upon arriving in England, Horatio’s wife cabled him with the words “Saved alone.” Horatio immediately sailed on the next ship to join his wife in England. After they had passed by the place where his daughters had died Horatio was able to write these words: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll; What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul’.” O Christian, is it well with your soul? Can your soul rejoice in times of sorrow? Do you enrich others even if you’re poor? Do you realize that you have everything, if you are in Christ (Rom. 8:32; Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3), even if you physically have nothing? The Christian life is not so much about the here and now. O sure, we have to live life now as God wills, but our mind’s focus and our heart’s affection should be on the Lord Jesus Christ and the glory that it is to come, not on the things of this earth that will all pass away. If we are living only for the here and now we will be greatly disappointed and our soul will never be well. We will never truly know the peace, joy, contentment, and real life that come when our heart, mind, soul, and strength are devoted to God alone. May your mind and heart be set on the Lord Jesus Christ – all that He is and all that He is done and may your soul know that it is well regardless of life’s circumstances. By God’s Grace – Through God’s Word – For God’s Glory! Chuck Long "Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ" -Eph.4:15 ©God’sGWG |