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When someone asks you, “How are you doing?”, you might reply, ‘I am doing fine’, or, ‘I am doing well.’ But, how true is that statement? Are you truly doing well?
For many of us today, things may not be well physically or financially or in our relationships with others. We may be sick, tight on money, or going through painful relationship drama. Our souls are troubled because of such things.
Many years ago, a man from Chicago experienced a heart-breaking tragedy. He and his family had planned a vacation in England. However, when the time of departure came, the man was delayed because of some business matters, and he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him on the ship. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship that they were traveling on was struck by another ship. 226 people died in this accident, including the man’s four daughters. Only his wife was saved.
With his heart weighed down by grief, this man boarded a ship to sail to England to join his wife. While sailing, he crossed over the same spot where his daughters lost their lives. However, while on that journey, he wrote the words to the now-famous hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.” The man’s name is Horatio G. Spafford, and despite the terrible tragedy that he suffered, the song he wrote is devoid of any hatred, bitterness, or resentment. Instead, it is a buoyant hymn filled with hope, love, and a message of peace. Please listen as I share it with you now.
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.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul!
How was this man, who suffered such pain, able to express these beautiful sentiments? It is almost as though he were not bothered by what had happened to him or concerned about what would happen to him. He was content and he was at peace. Mr. Spafford was able to be this way because, although everything was not well in his life, it was well with his soul. He accepted the fact that his life, and the lives of all those around him, were in the hands of God. And, he was not afraid of death because he knew that Jesus Christ would be with him to the end and would be there to meet him on the other side.
Horatio Spafford was able to say, “it is well with my soul”, because all of his sins had been forgiven and he had given his life to Christ. He knew that he was going to Heaven when he died and he would be able to see his daughters again. How about you, dear friend? Would you like to live with the kind of peace and assurance that Mr. Spafford had? Yes, you will still face troubles and difficulties in life, but knowing that nothing can separate you from a loving Creator who cared for you enough to send His only Son to die on the cross for you, will give you the strength you need to live with hope and peace in this present world.
Mr. Spafford understood that we are all sinners. He was a sinner and you and I are sinners. We have all broken the laws of God, and our sins automatically separate us from God and destine us for eternal punishment in Hell. However, God, in His mercy and love, provided a way of salvation from sin and the punishment of sin. This way of salvation is described in John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Because Mr. Spafford believed in Jesus Christ for his salvation, he had assurance about his eternal destination. He knew that he would go to Heaven when he died. As Jesus Christ said in John 5:24, “Verily, verily (or “truly, truly”) I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” It was well with his soul because he was not afraid of what the future held.
Would you like for it to be well with your soul? Would you like to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior so that you can face life without fear knowing that He will be with you through it all? And knowing that you do not have to be afraid of death because you know where you are going after you die? If so, you must admit that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, and then trust Jesus Christ to save you from your sins and the consequences of your sins. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
You can pray a short prayer to let God know that you have decided to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour and that you want to begin a relationship with Him. Please repeat after me and mean it from your heart.
Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today and forever so that I can have your peace and assurance about my life today and my eternal future. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.”
Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You!
+ MUSICAL SELECTION: “It Is Well With My Soul” by Sovereign Grace Music
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of thirty-four books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report and the Second Coming Watch Update. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master’s degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
BCNN1 WP 