From the world-wide TV coverage of the Olympic Games to the platform of the acceptance speech of the President of the United States, to the smallest church in the rural backwoods, - everywhere - we hear the strains of "Amazing Grace." Where in the world did we get this song? How does its story relate to you and me?
The story of John Newton is truly the story behind "Amazing Grace." One would be hard pressed to imagine. let alone to live, a blasphemous life equal to Newton's early years. Had I not read the accounts written by his own hand, I would not have believed them.
Death took his saintly mother in July 1732, when John was thirteen days from his seventh birthday. He writes, "Almost her whole employment was the care of my education. At not more than three years of age she herself taught me English. When I was four years old I could read with propriety in any common book. She stored my memory with many valuable pieces, chapters and portions of Scripture, hymns and poems."
After her death, and with only three years of formal schooling, Newton went to sea with his father, the captain of a merchant ship. From that day Newton began a decline into rebellion and degradation that lasted until his twenty-fourth year. His willful and wanton disregard for all that is right and holy led him into a life plagued with despair, dangers at sea, abuse, public floggings, destitution, depression, near drownings and miraculous escapes. Newton's misfortunes were largely the result of his own choosing -- except, that is, for the miraculous escapes.
On one occasion Newton became employed by a slave trader in North Africa. Newton soon fell sick, was unable to care for himself, and nearly starved to death. He was so ill that the slaves in chains pitied him, sharing their meager portions with him. Yet, he still remained stubbornly wicked, and in his degeneracy, tried to influence others to live as he did.
During those years, Newton often entered into a state of spiritual awakening. Consequently those times were short-lived, and he invariably lapsed into a more wicked and loathsome direction.
Even in his youth he became almost inexplicably, the captain of a slave ship, landing at least one load of his human cargo in Charleston, South Carolina. It is reported that at times he was so wretched that even his crew regarded him as little more than an animal. Once he fell overboard and his ship's crew refused to drop a boat to him. Instead they threw a harpoon at him, with which they dragged him back into the ship. He seemed oblivious to the plight of the poor black souls chained in the hold of his ship.
A harrowing experience at sea was used of the Lord to cause young Newton to seriously consider his standing before a holy God. After being at sea for several months with a load of lumber, livestock and beeswax, the ship ran into a violent storm. So severe was the gale that the otherwise seaworthy vessel was in danger of sinking. When the livestock were washed overboard, the crew tied themselves to the ship to keep from being swept into the sea. For four weeks, because of damage to the ship, the sailors despaired of life. Most of their waking hours were spent at the pumps to lighten the ship of water she had taken on. Rations were so low the men feared starvation. When they finally reached a port in Ireland, Newton began a sincere effort to become right with God.
Sometime later, at age twenty-three, Newton found himself on a small island off the coast of North Africa. He had contracted an illness that left him burning with fever, miserable and listless. He wrote, "Weak and almost delirious, I arose from my bed and crept to a secluded part of the island; there I found a renewed liberty to pray. I made no more resolves, but cast myself before the Lord to do with me as He should please. I was enabled to hope and believe in a crucified Saviour. The burden was removed from my conscience." From that hour, according to his autobiography, Newton began to improve both physically and spiritually.
During that experience Newton became acutely aware of four things taught in the Bible.
(1) I must realize that in my present condition I am a sinner before God.
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
"As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10).
(2) I cannot save myself from eternal punishment in hell.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
(3) Christ has paid for my sins and my punishment with His death on the cross.
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
(4) I must accept His crucifixion as payment for my sins, personally.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
"But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).
Two years later John Newton married his teenage sweetheart. During the following fourteen years, he continued studying for the ministry, and at age thirty-nine, became a pastor in Olney, England. In 1779 Newton published a hymnal "The Olney Hymns" in which he placed 281 of his own works, including "Amazing Grace." The melody that is so familiar to us is a traditional American melody published as early as 1831.
The next time you hear the hauntingly beautiful "Amazing Grace," remember that you, too, can experience the same saving grace as John Newton. In fact, you can do that right now! Just read over the Scriptures listed above, bow your head wherever you are, and ask Christ to come into your heart and be your Saviour.
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear;
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
John Newton died in 1807 at eighty-two years of age. Before his death he left with his executors his epitaph -- written sometime before -- to be etched on a plain marble slab and mounted near his burial place. The first portion is as follows:
John Newton, clerk,
once an infidel and libertine,
a servant of slaves in Africa,
was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ
preserved, restored, pardoned,
and appointed to preach the faith
he had long laboured to destroy.
(by Lindsay Terry)
If you have trusted Christ as your personal Saviour as a result of reading this, and you want further help in the decision you have made or if you have more questions about the Christian faith, please contact us by e-mail or visit http://www.emmanuelbarrie.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment