Christmas 2022 - It is Well

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Born on October 20, 1828, Horatio had grown to be a godly and prosperous man. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, a senior partner in a very successful Chicago based law firm and once married became a devoted husband and father.

Anna Larrsen was born in Norway in 1842. She was living in Chicago and was attending Horatio’s Sunday school class.

Horatio was very much taken with her beauty and intelligence and in the Fall of 1861 they were married.

Horatio and Anna were gifted with four beautiful daughters Anna, Margaret Lee, Elizabeth, and Tanetta.

Horatio’s law firm had become very prosperous and in the Spring 1871, Horatio made a large investment in real estate all along the Lake Michigan Front.

In the Fall of 1871 the Great Fire of Chicago occured and left Horatio and Anna’s real estate investments in a pile of ashes.

On that day an estimated 300 people lost their lives, and around 100,000 were made homeless.

Despite their own substantial financial loss, the Spaffords sought to demonstrate the love of Christ, by assisting those who were grief-stricken and in great need.

2 Years later in the Fall of 1873, Horatio decided that the stress of past 2 years had been tough on Anna and the girls and that the family would benefit from an extended vacation to Europe.

For several years the two had built a wonderful relationship with an Evangelist who whose gospel crusades were inspiring revivals. The Evangelist, Dwight would be preaching in Europe during this time and Horatio and Anna had planning on being with their friend and supporting him while they were in Europe.

Horatio booked passage on the French Sea Liner, the Ville du Harve for him, Anna and the Girls

Anne was 11, Margaret (Maggie) was 9, Elizabeth (Bessie) was 5 and Tanetta was 2

It was going be a wonderful family adventure for sure.

Just before they were schedule to leave ...Horatio was confronted with some business problems which stem from zoning issue around his and Anna’s real estate investments that were lost in the great fire. The issue was urgent and needed to be dealt with.

Rather that cancel the trip Horatio told Anna to go ahead with the girls and he would jump on the next ship and be close behind them

On November 21, 1873 the Ville du Harve was struck by an Iron Hulled, British sailing ship called the Lochearn.

The Ville du Harve sank in 12 minutes, 226 souls were lost in what was the worst accident at sea in naval history up to that time, some forty years before the Titanic.

Anna was found unconscious, floating on piece of wreckage, Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta were all lost that day, drowned at sea.

The crew of the Lochearn, which itself was in danger of sinking, pulled Anna from the Sea.

Fortunately, the Trimountain, a cargo sailing vessel, arrived to save the survivors. Nine days after the shipwreck.. Anna landed in Cardiff, Wales, and cabled Horatio, these six words “Saved alone. What shall I do…?”

After receiving Anna's telegram, Horatio immediately left Chicago to be with her.

On the Atlantic crossing, the captain of his ship called Horatio to his cabin to tell him that they were passing over the spot where his four daughters had perished.

He wrote to Rachel, Anna’s half-sister, “On Thursday last we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep.

But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, in the fold, the dear lambs.”

It was there , on that sorrowful crossing that Horatio, a man who deeply loved his wife and children, a man who deeply love Jesus and had given so much for the Kingdom of God, wrote a song of Worship that today is still sung by the Church.

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

In this passage from Isaiah which we read earlier, the promised savior, the coming Messiah was called, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

The Word PEACE here is this passage is the Hebrew word Shalom

Shalom is rich and complex experience.

The root idea of the meaning of Shalom is that of wholeness, a soundness of structure, all things being in order and fit properly in their place.

Think of a beautiful stone wall constructed of thousands of stones of varying shapes and sizes and yet ordered in a way that has symmetry and clean mortar lines and you’ll get a glimpse of the basic concept of Shalom.

It’s where all the pieces of our hearts and minds are order in a way that produces an unshakable wholeness of the heart and soul.

In the midst of some of life’s most trying times, this sort peace transcends human understanding and is rock solid.

It was in a state of shalom , of true peace that Horatio Spafford was even capable of writing this song of Worship to Jesus on this day.

This would not be the last sorrows that Horatio and Anna faced but regardless of those sorrows, these two dedicated there lives to the Kingdom of God and the Mission of Christ.

In August 1881 the Spaffords left America with a number of other like-minded Christians and settled in Jerusalem.

There they served the needy, helped the poor, cared for the sick, and took in homeless children.

They weren’t talking about the Gospel, they were living it and demonstrating the love of Jesus to everyone around them

On October 16th 1888 Horatio Spafford died of malaria

Anna Spafford continued to work in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem until her own death in 1923.

Both Horatio and Anna were laid to rest in Jerusalem.

It can be truly said of them both that it was well with their souls.

The Real Gift of Christmas is this sort of Peace and only the Prince of Peace himself can give that gift to us.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Colossians 1:19–22 NET

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him—

Peace is NOT the normal state of the Human Heart because we born into world and in an alienate, hostile state with God that reeks of Conflict, Anxiety, Worry and Fear.

The Gift of Christmas was unwrapped at the Cross and for those who are willing to accept the gift...it is now possible for them to also say with full conviction, it is well with my Soul

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you;1

1 Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), Jn 14:27.

My prayer for each of you listen today is that you would desire this sort of Peace and give your hearts and lives to the Prince of Peace who offers it.

Merry Christmas to All, My God’s Favor and Peace truly rule in your hearts and lives this Holiday Season

Until Next Week

God Bless