“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

We saw the last time that Christian Contentment isdefined as, “…that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious, frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.” As a matter of the heart, inner contentment is synonymous with inner peace with God. This hymn likens this peace to a slowly flowing river that is wide and vast as it moves along its path. May our lives be defined by peace and contentment as we wind along our journey in life.

Like A River Glorious

by Frances Ridley Havergal

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,

over all victorious in its bright increase:

perfect, yet still flowing fuller every day;

perfect, yet still growing deeper all the way.

Chorus

Trusting in the Father, hearts are fully blest,

finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of his mighty hand,

where no harm can follow, in his strength we stand.

We may trust him fully all for us to do;

those who trust him wholly find him wholly true.

[Chorus]

* Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was born in Astley, Worcestershire, Britain. Her father was the Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Worcester. In August, 1850, she entered Mrs. Teed’s School, whose influence over her was most beneficial. In the following year she says, “I committed my soul to the Saviour, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment.” In 1860 she left Worcester on her father resigning the Rectory of St. Nicholas, and resided at different periods in Britain, broken by visits to Switzerland, Scotland, and North Wales.

Simply and sweetly she sang the love of God, and His way of salvation. To this end, and for this object, her whole life and all her powers were consecrated. She lives and speaks in every line of her poetry. Her poems are permeated with the fragrance of her passionate love of Jesus. Her religious views and theological bias are distinctly set forth in her poems, and may be described as mildly Calvinistic, without the severe dogmatic tenet of reprobation. The burden of her writings is a free and full salvation, through the Redeemer’s merits, for every sinner who will receive it, and her life was devoted to the proclamation of this truth by personal labors, literary efforts, and earnest interest in Foreign Missions. She died in 1879 at the age of 43.

…walk in the Spirit…live in the Spirit Galatians 5:16, 23

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  I Thessalonians 5:23

The Bible speaks of the three-fold reality of our salvation as Past, Present, and Future.

Past Salvation

Our past salvation is called Justification, or being freed from the penalty of sin the moment we believed (Romans 6:11) because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8b) This is sometimes called positional sanctification because it describes the believers heavenly position in Christ, seated in the heavenlies. Our sin (right now, in 2021) was dealt with once and for all when Jesus died on the cross and rose triumphantly to satisfy the Father’s justice against sin. In God’s transcendent (timeless) plan, we were saved long before we were born again.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4

“[God] hath 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 Timothy 1:9

We were saved when we trusted Jesus Christ and God gave us eternal life. Our position is secure in Christ for all eternity and cannot change. Now, we are also being saved as the Holy Spirit transforms us by the renewing of our minds to be more like Christ. (Romans 12:2)

Present Salvation

Even if we believed on Christ for salvation years or days ago, the Bible also speaks of our  being saved, which is an ongoing, lifelong process called Sanctification. This process is also called conditional sanctification because it varies during our lives depending on the hills and valleys of our walk with God. God’s plan for daily victory over the power of sin and Christian spiritual growth is a lifelong process. God’s plan of sanctification is explained in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans in Chapters 6-8. Our past salvation that regenerated us, means that we are no longer slaves to sin and have the supernatural ability to grow in the character of Christ. Paul argues that a believer can and should live a victorious life now.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:28-29

This is what Paul meant when he said, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12) Last week’s hymn, especially the chorus, mentioned the believer’s satisfaction with present salvation:

I’m satisfied, satisfied,

I’m satisfied with Jesus, the One who died for me;

I’m satisfied, satisfied,

I’m satisfied with Jesus, for he makes me free.

Future Salvation

We will be saved in the future from the presence of sin in what is called Glorification. Some call this eternal sanctification. Our glorification is spoken of by Peter as a future event that he calls “…an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:4-5) Like any inheritance, our experience of the total absence of sin (blessed thought!) does not come until we enter God’s presence either by physical death or the Rapture. We look forward to the time when our earthly pilgrimage is over, sin is put away forever, pain and suffering end. “…now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11)

Today’s hymn and chorus focus on our future salvation or glorification when we will be perfectly content in the presence of our Savior.

When I Have Finished My Pilgrimage Here

by A. H. Ackley *

When I have finished my pilgrimage here,

When I shall have vanished temptation and fear,

As in the arms of His love I abide,

I shall be satisfied.

Chorus

I shall be satisfied,

(I shall be satisfied, I shall be satisfied,)

I shall be satisfied;

(I shall be satisfied, I shall be satisfied;)

Sheltered above by His infinite love,

I shall be satisfied.

When I am troubled by grief and despair,

Grace never-failing awaits me up there;

Willing to trust Him whatever betide,

I shall be satisfied. [Chorus]

When I have traveled the way with my Lord,

Counting the mileposts by faith in His word,

Living and dying with Him at my side,

I shall be satisfied. [Chorus]

* Alfred Henry Ackley (1887-1960) was born in Spring Hill, Pennsylvania. His father taught him music and he also studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and be­came an ac­comp­lished cel­lo play­er. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland and was ordained in 1914. He served in churches in Pennsylvania and California. He also worked with the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver evangelist team and for Homer Rodeheaver’s publishing company. He wrote around 1500 gospel and children’s songs.

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.” Matthew 18:11-13 (KJV)

The parable of the lost sheep is one of almost 30 parables of Jesus recorded in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). This hymn by Judson W. Van De Venter dwells on the blessed truth that Jesus came to save sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) When we were lost in a wilderness and wandering in the world without hope (Ephesians 2:12-13) Jesus not only sought us when we were rebels against Him, but took us to Himself and gave us eternal life when we believed in Him who shed His blood for us on the cross. (John 3:16-17)

The Loving Saviour Found Me Upon the Mountain Cold

by Judson W. Van De Venter *

The loving Saviour found me

Upon the mountain cold;

He threw his arms around me,

And brought me to the fold.

His love he freely gave me,

His precious blood applied;

He did it all to save me,

And I am satisfied.

Refrain

I’m satisfied, satisfied,

I’m satisfied with Jesus, the One who died for me;

I’m satisfied, satisfied,

I’m satisfied with Jesus, for he makes me free.

The Saviour lingered near me

When on the mountain wild;

When others seemed to fear me,

He owned me for his child.

With tenderness he took me,

When others turned aside;

He saved and ne’er forsook me,

And I am satisfied. [Refrain]

I’ll never, never leave him,

Forget, nor turn away;

I’ll love, adore, believe him,

I’ll trust him and obey;

I’ll go where’er he leads me,

Be ever at his side,

And work where’er he needs me,

For I am satisfied. [Refrain]

* Judson W. Van De Venter (1855–1939) was born in Michigan and following graduation from Hillsdale College, he became an art teacher and supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania. Recognizing his talent for the ministry, friends urged him to give up teaching and become an evangelist. Van De Venter wavered for five years between becoming a recognized artist or devoting himself to ministry. Following his decision to surrender his life to the Divine, Van De Venter traveled throughout the United States, England, and Scotland, doing evangelistic work. Toward the end of his life, Van De Venter moved to Florida, and was professor of hymnology at the Florida Bible Institute for four years in the 1920s. Van De Venter published more than 60 hymns in his lifetime, but “I Surrender All” is his most famous.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”  II Peter 1:3       

One of the lessons of Christian contentment is realizing that many things in this life are not true necessities. We focus on material comforts as if they were essential to daily life. When we don’t have what we think are necessities we feel deprived, disadvantaged, unfortunate. When our material blessings are removed, we can get angry with God for not meeting what we think are our needs.

Job was tempted to curse God when he lost his children, his wealth, and his health. And yet, Job saw what he had as being given to him by God in the first place.

“‘…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:21-22

“‘…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil [calamity]?’ In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” Job 2:10b

Yes, Job was discouraged, unhappy, and hurting. If God had turned against him, Job could see himself as an underprivileged victim, but God had not abandoned him. By the end of the book, Job learned that his only need was the holy, Almighty God who created him. When he reflected on his selfishness, Job concluded,

“…therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. …Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:3b, 6

Have you ever wonder why we weren’t given everything that we wanted? Maybe it’s because we don’t need everything we want. Maybe it’s time to learn that God has already given us all that we need in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

All I Need

by Charles Price Jones (1865-1949) *

Jesus Christ is made to me,

All I need, all I need;

He alone is all my plea,

He is all I need.

Chorus:

Wisdom, righteousness and pow’r,

Holiness forevermore,

My redemption full and sure,

He is all I need.

Jesus is my all in all,

All I need, all I need;

While He keeps I cannot fall,

He is all I need. [Chorus]

He redeemed me when He died,

All I need, all I need;

I with Him was crucified,

He is all I need. [Chorus]

To my Savior will I cleave,

All I need, all I need;

He will not His servant leave,

He is all I need. [Chorus]

He’s the treasure of my soul,

All I need, all I need;

He hath cleansed and made me whole,

He is all I need. [Chorus]

Glory, glory to the Lamb,

All I need, all I need;

By His Spirit sealed I am,

He is all I need. [Chorus]

* Charles Price Jones  (1865-1949) grew up in Kingston, Georgia, and attended a Baptist church. He was converted in 1884 while living in Cat Island, Arkansas. In 1885 he was called to the ministry and preached and pastored several Baptist churches. After asking God for a deeper experience of grace and fasting and praying for three days in 1895, Jones experienced a closeness with God and joined with other Baptist holiness adherents. They started a holiness movement in the Baptist church, and he began teaching holiness in his congregation of Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. For several years, Jones led a non-denominational holiness movement. In 1899 he began to write songs for his church. Most of his hymns were inspired by a scripture passage. In 1917, Jones organized Christ Temple Church in Los Angeles with a 1,000-seat sanctuary, printing press, school building, and a girl’s dormitory. He died January 19, 1949 in Los Angeles.

“So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long?

And have compassion on Your servants.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,

The years in which we have seen evil.

Let Your work appear to Your servants,

And Your glory to their children.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,

And establish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Psalm 90:12-17 (NKJV)

The Sands Of Time Are Sinking

Lyrics by Annie Ross Cousin *

The sands of time are sinking,

the dawn of heaven breaks,

the summer morn I’ve sighed for,

the fair sweet morn awakes;

dark, dark hath been the midnight,

but dayspring is at hand,

and glory, glory dwelleth

in Emmanuel’s land.

The King there in his beauty

without a veil is seen;

it were a well-spent journey,

though sev’n deaths lay between:

the Lamb with his fair army

doth on Mount Zion stand,

and glory, glory dwelleth

in Emmanuel’s land.

O Christ, he is the fountain,

the deep sweet well of love!

The streams on earth I’ve tasted,

more deep I’ll drink above:

there to an ocean fullness

his mercy doth expand,

and glory, glory dwelleth

in Emmanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment,

but her dear bridegroom’s face;

I will not gaze at glory,

but on my King of grace;

not at the crown he gifteth,

but on his pierc-ed hand:

the Lamb is all the glory

of Emmanuel’s land.

* Annie Ross Cousin (1824-1906) was the only child of Dr. David Ross Cundell, a former surgeon at the Battle of Waterloo. She received a private education and became a skilled pianist. She married a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, with whom she had six children. Shortly after their marriage, Anne began writing church hymns for her husband’s services and many of these became very popular in Britain during the mid-to late 19th century.

Her most popular song, “The Sands Of Time Are Sinking”, was written in 1854. The original version was 19 stanzas, but was not widely known until a shorted 5-verse version appeared in a hymn book, The Service of Praise. A collection of her poems, Immanuel’s Land and Other Pieces, was published in 1876 under her initials A.R.C., by which she was most widely known. Anne and her husband retired in Edinburgh after nearly 20 years of religious service.

“…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,

therewith to be content.”

Philippians 4:11b

The Centurion Chronicles ends this week and this centurion thanks all soldiers who have followed along and given me words of encouragement.

My studies during 2020 have convinced me that I have a lot to learn about how to be content. I would like to share some of those lessons with you in 2021. Our study guide (besides the Bible) will be a little book written by the Puritan preacher, Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) titled, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, published in 1648.

Please join me as we learn about Christian Contentment together.

Michael Vetter