ORLANDO CHINESE CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
JULY, 2002
Hope Yet Not Shamed
After the 9/11 tragedy, the whole nation was shocked in sorrow, yet "In God We Trust" and "United We Stand". Many began to ponder about life and death, God and man, as well as the life after. The spiritual apathy turned to God with a special appreciation of family and friendship. The New Yorkers, in particular, showed the world that the evil attack only united and strengthened this people. It awakened America, and seemed to have put the question "Where Is God?" to rest. Sadly in less than ten months, the war in Afghanistan, the threat of chemical weapons, the continued scare of terrorism and the conflict in the Mid-East plus the sliding stock market led the Americans back into turmoils of doubt, fear and finger-pointing. Even Christians would sometimes ask, "Can I really trust God in delivering me?"
In Romans 5:3-5, Paul wrote, "Rejoice in tribulation. Hope makes not shamed, for the love of God has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." However, without faith our perseverance would not produce character nor hope, and hope will only make us shamed. For example, it is hard to persevere on a hot summer visitation call when stuck in the traffic jam. It is hard for a couple to persevere if they fight over and over again behind the closed door at home. How about the wife who, after years of hardship till the success of her husband, learned that he decided to run away with another woman! Then, there was the child whom you educated for years now turning to drug or homosexuality! Or the man who is ready to enjoy retirement after years of laboring at his career now being struck with cancer! Some may ask, "Where is your God?" or "Where is the love and faithfulness of God?" Who would believe in the One we preached?
Even the Apostle Paul suffered greatly for the sake of the gospel. He was often jailed, stoned, shipwrecked, journeyed far in perils of waters, robbers, cities and false brethren. He was in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness and in hunger and thirst, and with deep concern for all the churches. Yet he said, "Rejoice in tribulation" and "hope makes not shamed (or disappointed)." He gave us the example of Abraham in Romans 4:17-22. When Abram was 75, God called him out of Ur to a land he did not yet know. God promised his descendants to be abundant as the sand of the earth when he and Sarai had no children. In Genesis 15 God took Abram to see the stars of the night sky and said, "so shall your descendants be." After thirteen more years of waiting since the birth of Ishmael, God established a covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham, and Sarai's to Sarah. God said to him, "I have made you a father of many nations," that he would be exceedingly fruitful through Sarah. Romans 4:18-19 told us that as he considered his own old age and the deadness of Sarah's womb, Abraham trusted in God and His promise. When instructed by God to circumcise all the male of his household, he readily obeyed. His waiting lasted 25 years, and lastly God gave him a son named Isaac. Hebrew 6:15 says that he had patiently endured and obtained the promise. Surely he hoped and was made not shamed.
Finally, in Genesis 22 God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. It sounded cruel and unreasonable, but it was the wisdom and compassion of God to fulfill the faith of this man. He was called to leave the familiar homeland, nearly lost his lovely wife twice, lost his nephew Lot then his son Ishmael. God used many tribulations to break him and mold him, so he might learn the lessons of God's grace and promise. Because he knew that God was in control of everything, he endured till the end. His patience was long suffered, through which he received the promise and was not ashamed. As a result, Paul proclaimed that Abraham believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls those void into being. Therefore, Abraham is called the father of us all who believe (Romans 4:17). Consequently, we who believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus are justified to be reconciled to God, and now stand in His grace (Romans 5:1-2). Paul then followed in saying, "Rejoice in tribulation, and hope does not disappoint", because the Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts. How do we know this love? "For while we were yet sinners Christ died for our sins, so is the love of God demonstrated toward us." (Romans 5:8) The cross is the proof, and the Holy Spirit reveals this love in our hearts. We are thus not shaken by tribulation, knowing that He loves us and will carry us through into joy (Romans 5:11). God spared not His own Son for our sake, what else would He not give to us? Though we do not know about tomorrow, God cares for us and will deliver us by His life. We should learn not to trust in man but to look upon the faithfulness of God, to hope and not ashamed.
God never promised the sky be always blue. The Lord told the disciples that in the world they would have tribulations. Even Paul and Peter echoed such statements (Act 14:22, I Peter 1:6). On the other hand, the scripture reminds us to rejoice and be patient (Romans 12:12), and find peace in the Lord (John 16:33). So is I Thess. 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks." Knowing the love and comfort of God, we always see the hand of God in every event. May we know Christ, and His power of resurrection and the fellowship of His death, so that we have the hope and joy of resurrection!
"It Is Well with My Soul"
Like many other hymns with a moving story in the background, "It Is Well with My Soul" came from the deep sorrow of a man named Horatio Spafford. With his broken heart he approached God for His grace and comfort, and wrote this beautiful hymn that touched the heart of thousands.
Spafford was born in 1828 in New York. When he grew up, the city of Chicago was just booming after the Civil War. The North Beach region drew a large population for investment and business. Young Spafford was a successful lawyer in real estate investment. He fully realized that his success was from God, as he also was blessed with a happy family. Therefore, he devoted himself for Christian service in his church, and supported Moody's gospel mission work. Then in 1871 tragedy began to strike. First, his only young son died. In less than a year, the great Chicago fire of Aug. 8 destroyed most of his properties on the north beach. In order to get relief from this sorrow, and to support Moody's crusade in England, he booked a voyage for the family to go to England that fall. Shortly before departure, he was delayed because of an urgent business. The ocean liner his wife and four daughters traveled on was hit in heavy fog by another ship in the North Atlantic on Nov. 22. All 226 passengers including Spafford's four daughters were lost at sea, except his wife. Upon arrival in England, she wired him with these words only, "Saved alone!" On his way to meet with her, Spafford was told of the spot in Atlantic where his girls drowned. Heart-broken, he penned this treasured hymn as he sought for the divine comfort in his darkest hour. The heavenly promise of peace and assurance of salvation gave him these