Kind of a gloomy day, and some of the thoughts expressed in the day’s Chronicle tend for gloomy thoughts, because there is an article about 12/21/12. This is somehow based on the Mayan calendar. The Mayan civilization was in its heyday about 300 to 900, and was already in decline when the first Europeans set foot on this continent. About 16 million Mayans live in Mexico and Guatemala today. This civilization gave us cocoa, domesticated tomatoes, and corn.
But let me lighten the mood by pointing to the Word of Jesus. “Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, neither the Son, but the Father”. So any speculation is really out of place, and fruitless.
The times call for knowing how we ought to live, how to master life, and the answer to that, I believe, lies in St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Here he writes of Timothy’s faith, and of the God “who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,. But according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim 1,9. He speaks about the Gospel, "of which I have been appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” Bv.11 A teacher has material, a teacher has something to teach, a doctrine, as Paul pointed out. “Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”v.13. That is Gospel, that is doctrine, that is proven truth. In verse 12 Paul speaks of suffering, and then adds, “nevertheless”. In a sense Christianity likes in that one word, “Nevertheless.” This is rising above it all, this is reaching for the Rock we know is there which stands firm.
In the great Chicago fire of 1871, Horatio Spafford, a real estate builder, lost a fortune. With work, planning and, effort, he helped the 100,000 who were homeless and in the process rebuilt his own fortune. In 1874 he decided to take his wife and 4 daughters to Europe on a vacation, but business affairs at the last minute kept him in New York. His wife and daughters sailed on the Ville de Havre, Spafford promising to join them soon. During the night of November 18 that ship collided with an iron sailing vessel and sank quickly. Mrs. Spafford survived, clinging to a piece of wreckage, while their 4 daughters were lost. Horatio hastened to rejoin his wife and took ship, and when they passed the scene of the accident, the captain told Mr. Spafford. He went to his cabin, could not sleep, and composed this Hymn:
“When peace like river attended my way,
When sorrow like sea billows, roll
What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It s well, it is well, with my soul”.
That is what The Gospel does. Paul has written,” I know whom I have believed.” So the Christian always can speak that “Nevertheless”. I KNOW, and “am persuaded.” That is what the Christian believes, and that is what makes his life one that is secure, one that is triumphant.
GPD 5/3/09
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