An Incomparable Fruit

Horatio’s Story

He was born on October 20, 1828.  Self-discipline drove him to become a lawyer and possess much land and property.  As an adult, his hard work paid off.  He was wealthy.

Of course he didn’t do it alone.  As with so many others, Horatio’s wife kept the home fires burning and raising their children.  She freed Horatio from the tasks of daily life to allow him the time to devote towards his work, business, and properties.  Horatio’s wife was part of the equation of his success.

Unfortunately, success of any sort cannot prevent death.  Horatio experienced this first-hand when his son died.  Only 4 years old, Horatio Jr. died from scarlet fever.

Every Piece of Our Being

Only those who have lost children can explain the pain of their loss.  Surely Horatio cried for his son.  And I would be amazed if he did not think daily of his son’s little voice calling out, “daddy!” or his son’s gentle touch and little hands grasping his father’s big hands.  And as a parent, just holding his son while he cried, comforting him, and restoring him to happiness and hope.

Love is an individual thing.  When the object of our love is lost, it cannot be replaced.  Yes, we can and do have that love with others, but here is the funny thing about love.  Love does not die.

Just because the object of our love has passed, our love for them stays with us.  Lost love is a love we mourn as long as we have breath in our lungs.  A heart will always mark the season of loss for as long as we live.

I will interject here the truth that God is love.  When we love, you must know that is God in us.  Love is His nature and He has created us with His nature in us.  God did this because in His home which is heaven, the love that fills us here on earth will be multiplied and magnified with everyone we meet.  We will no longer need to discover what our love language is because love will be what moves every piece of our being when we are there.

A Telegram Changed His Life

Horatio knew this.  Unfortunately, loss was a place he would visit again.

Of the many properties Horatio owned, most of them were destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  But the loss of property did not stop him.  Horatio, along with his wife, did their best to help others in their time of loss.

When life had settled down and tragedy put in its place, Horatio decided his family needed a vacation and a trip to Europe was planned.  His friend, Dwight Moody, would be there preaching and Horatio thought the break would do them all good.

At the last minute, business kept Horatio home.  He sent his wife and four daughters on ahead of him.  He would join them as soon as he could.

Days later, a telegram changed his life.  From his wife, “Saved alone, what shall I do?”1

His four daughters were gone.  Never again would his love for them be fulfilled in this life.  He would go to them but they would never return to him.

Still Express Love

What grief could pierce a man and yet not destroy him?  A grief that is shattered upon the Rock of his love which is Jesus Christ.

I will not pretend that Horatio was not devastated.  When he and his wife were reunited, it is certain they grieved deeply.  Their family was gone, lost to the Fever and to the Sea.  The loss of their property must not have been felt in the face of losing their children.

When I ponder the man, Horatio Spafford, I consider what type of man could lose so much and yet still express love and gratitude.  It is said that while on his trip across the Atlantic to join his wife, he penned the words of his heart as he passed the spot where his daughter’s entered the veil of the next life before him.  His words were put to music by another friend, Philip Bliss, and became a hymn that we still sing today.

It Is Well with My Soul

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.

(Refrain:) It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
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.
(Refrain)

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pain shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
(Refrain)

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.
(Refrain)

That Fruit Will Be Redeemed

With the loss of so much, Horatio and his wife realized that building here on earth only goes so far.  They understood that it is people who will live forever and those people need help on their journey through this life.  Their epiphany was so dear after learning first-hand the desperate needs of eternal travelers, that they left everything and moved to Jerusalem to help any who needed it.

Yes, they had more children, but loss has no memory and visited them again.  Their son, born after the loss of his older brother and sisters, died at 4 years old, like his first-born brother.

Horatio suffered more than most yet he loved through his pain.  That love, tested in the furnace of adversity is incomparable fruit.  Loving through pain is what creates an incomparable fruit.

Incomparable fruit is a treasure born out of immense suffering.  That fruit is used to help others who have suffered and are searching to make sense of their lives in the midst of their turmoil.

One day, for those who believe in Jesus Christ and whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that fruit will be redeemed.  And that treasure will cause each person tried by it to shine brightly forever and ever.

Author’s Note

Some mountains in our lives are immovable.  We struggle and cry, Lord why, why don’t You move it?

 There was a mountain that Jesus wanted His Father to move.  God the Father never moved that one mountain, even though He said, “Let every mountain be made low and every valley filled up and the rough roads smooth.” Luke 3:5-6.

The one mountain Jesus could not move was His crucifixion.  That was the one mountain He had to face and suffer the consequences of, and it resulted in our salvation.

The massif He faced was the greatest mountain any person has ever had to face.  It was the cold, hard, irresolute, and dark face of sin, yours, and mine.  He suffered the ultimate sacrifice to overcome that otherwise impenetrable peak and His sacrifice was seen by the Majesty on high.

You may have a mountain as big before you that cannot be cast into the sea.  You may struggle year after year and in the end be crucified for that mountain.  Even if you have no earthly witness of your suffering and sacrifice, the Majesty on High is watching you.  His heart hears the tears of your heart.  In time, He will proclaim your name to the brethren.  For now, keep holding on.

Resources

1.       www.loc.gov/resource/mamcol.011/?r=-0.144,-0.048,1.297,0.784,0

What the Bible Says

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:35-40