Blessed Assurance

Scriptures: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Philippians 1:21-26)

Fanny Crosby, the famous hymn writer from 1820 to 1915, was blind almost her entire life. Yet, she has never been bitter. In her first poem written at the age of 8, in the first verse, she wrote,

Oh, what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see!
Am resolved that in this world,
Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don’t,
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot, and I won’t!

One time, a well-meaning preacher said to her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when he showered so many other gifts upon you.” Fanny responded at once that, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind?” The preacher replied with surprise, “Why?” The poet responded by saying, “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”

Though physically blind at the age of six weeks, her spiritual vision was better than 20-20. Over her life-time, she wrote more than 8000 hymns. Her love and passion for Christ, her Savior, leaped out of the pages she penned and moved so many closer to their Lord and Savior, the one so dear to her heart.

How is it that the days of a blind can be so much brighter than that of a person whose vision is not impaired? How is it that the one who has not can be so much more joyful that the ones who have? I think the answer is simple. Jesus was at the center of her life! She would keep that focus at all cost, even paying the price of losing vision is worthwhile. Her response to the well-meaning preacher reminded me of what Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

It’s simple and, yet, it’s so powerful. Fanny or Paul, their lives were characterized by the presence of our Lord Jesus and were filled with joy that we desire so much. As we long for the blessed joy in life, we may have forgotten this simple yet critical key to joy, keep Jesus in the center of our lives. He has promised that wherever He is, we will be also.

One of my favorite hymns written by Ms. Crosby was “Blessed Assurance”,

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

(Refrain)
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angeles descending bring from above,
Echoes of mercy, whisper of love.
(Refrain)

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
(Refrain)

May we all live in and out of this blessed assurance!

Prayer Request:
For those who are not sure if they are children of God

Prayers:

Dear God, thank You for making us Your children. Help us to live our lives in ways that honor this identity we have in Your Son Jesus. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer, A-men!