On the Way to Wonder

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, It is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)”

         When I think of the Reformation and Martin Luther, I think of this Bible verse.  The reformation that we officially say started Oct. 31, 1517 when Luther nailed 95 theses or statements to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, started a process where theologians and ordinary people began to articulate the premises, the foundations, of their faith.  Four or five “solae (only)” became central to the understanding of Protestantism and how it varied from Catholicism.  I want to look at these “Solae” this week and to reflect on the core of our faith.

         Before we delve into these foundation beliefs, it  might do us well to think about what is foundational as we think about our faith.  Is there something about my faith that I would be willing to die for?  Our military people are willing to put their lives on the line for the freedoms we cherish dearly as written in the Declaration of Independence: all should have the freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.  The spiritual revolution of the 1500s we call the Reformation said all people have the rights of: scripture, faith, grace, and Christ.  These led to an individualism and belief in the value of each person regardless of race, creed, or intelligence. We cherish our rights to become, to think for ourselves, and to thrive.  Many of our social tensions right now are wrapped up in how we understand these rights and how we balance the needs of the many with the rights of the individual.

         So take a moment and write down one freedom that you value and then the implications that come from that value for your life and the choices you make.  Spend a moment to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for that freedom.  Which “sola” would you trace that freedom to: Scripture, grace, faith or Christ?  Blessings.

This week we focused on the famous Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” written by Martin Luther around 1529.  On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, 95 theses or complaints.  It was a way for calling for a public forum to discuss these issues.  The printing press was newly invented and so these 95 statements went to press.  Catholicism was the dominant Christian version of faith and to question the Pope was radical.  These statements crystalized into four basic “alone” statements that came to symbolize the Protestant Reformation.

• Faith alone (no need to buy indulgences)
• Christ alone (no need to go through the saints to God)
• Word alone  (Scripture over tradition for truth)
• Grace alone (salvation is gift, not earned)

We will look at these four pillars of Protestantism next week and ponder how they strengthen our faith walk.

         Spend a few minutes today reflecting on these four points – the role of faith, the role of Christ, the role of Scripture, and the importance of grace.  Then listen to a Mighty Fortress. 

         Luther went on to translate the Bible into German, the people’s language in his area and we are recipients of that movement.  Many of us are gifted to be able to read the Word in our mother tongue.  We have much to be thankful for as we head into this next week.  Perhaps you could name now one thing for each of the four areas.  I love my confirmation verse Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Thank you Lord for that Scripture! Do you have a favorite scripture verse, a favorite faith memory, a memory of grace unexpected and what is one word you would use to describe who Christ is to you?  Blessings.

Psalm 31: 19-24

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

19 How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.

20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.

22 In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!  The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.

24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

In the second stanza of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, Martin Luther laments that life would be a disaster if we were left to our own resources as there is an “ancient foe who seeks to work us woe.”  The legions of evil would defeat people for “on earth is not his equal.”  David in Psalm 31 equally felt that he was cut off from God by the evil that confronted him as he ran from King Saul.  David realizes that God has prepared good for his followers though.  God hides us, preserves and keeps us safe as God is our refuge and our fortress in times of trouble.  David does not say we will not have trouble but during those times when we feel cut off from God by our problems, we can “be strong and take heart” and hope in the Lord, not the powers of this world.

     Perhaps we feel cut off from God by our troubles.  Often we feel that way.  That is a lie.  God is preparing good things.  He is present and it is he who keeps us safe, not our money, our talents, or our government.  So what does safety

• Look like ?______________________________
• Feel like? ______________________________
• Smell like? ____________________________
• Sound like ? ____________________________
• And taste like? __________________________

Thank the Lord for each of these sensations that remind you are secure!

2.  Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be loosing

were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing. 

You ask who that may be? 

Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same; and he must win the battle.”

As we approach Oct. 31, we are focusing on this great Reformation hymn written by Martin Luther.  We’ve looked at Psalm 46 which inspired the hymn but Psalm 31 carries a similar fortress theme.  It is a psalm of King David.

         1. “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;  deliver me in your righteousness.

         2. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

         3. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

         4. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

         5. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

The word “refuge” is written three times and “fortress” twice.  In Swahili the word for refugee is “mkimbizi” or a person who has been forced to run.  Certainly refugees are people “running from” evil and “running to” safety.  Maybe I am not a political refugee but this psalm understands some of the things I run from.  I run from shame (v.1)  I run from deaf ears that do not hear me, from loss of voice (v.2)  I run from chaos and aimlessness (v.3).  I may be running from social or financial traps (v.4).  And I run to the hands of God who is faithful (v.5).

         The second stanza of “A Mighty Fortress” focuses on our helplessness in many of our life’s problems.  Perhaps we call it “control issues” because we feel like we are in control so little.  We are hounded to buy insurance for all sorts of things that are going to catch us.  But Luther reminds us that we cannot depend on our own strength but must run from self to “the Man of God’s own choosing,” Christ Jesus.

         So of the conditions that plague people – shame, invisibility, confusion or lack of direction, and feeling trapped – what might you be seeking refuge from today?  We can run to Jesus who does not change and who is a rock to stand on, a refuge to hide in.  Thank you, Lord.

The Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” written by Martin Luther was based on Psalm 46.  God is our fortress and refuge.  God is a river, lives with us and within us, and protects us from the “uproar of nations.”  Today we look at part three of the Psalm, verses 8-11.

         “Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has        bought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the        earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the         shields with fire.  He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I          will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’          The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

At face value, we might question this part of the Psalm.  We do not see the end of wars yet, nor the end to weapons with which we try to dominate others – spears and shields.  No! “Our evil foe doth seek to work us woe.  His power and might are great and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.”  Stanza one echoes the chaos of evil in our world. 

         The Psalmist, though, shares of God’s determination to win and to be exalted.  We have a hint of this as we see education, medical hospitals, orphanages, social services, and environmental care proliferate where the Gospel is spread.  Christianity is not the only spreader of good but only God is truly good so where there is good there is God, fighting evil.  He will win.

         Where are you at war today?  Perhaps it is with a friend, or a bad experience that has left you broken and guilty, or with grief that has left you feeling so alone.  We fight many wars other than the military ones that are reported in the news.  The Psalmist tells us to “be still and know that I am God.”  So how do you calm your soul when you are pulled apart by strife and worry?  For some it is meditation while for others it is music, a walk in nature, sleep, or even a good cry.  It will always involve shifting our attention from ourselves and our problems to the reality of God in the midst of our struggles.  We may not see him but we can see the signs of his presence – clouds, smiles, nature, hugs, laughter of children.  Perhaps write a list of ways you can be still and know that God is present.  He is the fortress surrounding you.  Blessings.

“ A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

This famous hymn that came out of the Reformation that we will celebrate on October 31 was written by Martin Luther.  It is based on Psalm 46.  We looked at verses Psalm 46:1-3 yesterday.  Today we focus on verses 4- 7.

         “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy   place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall;    God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms    fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  The Lord Almighty is with us;          the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

What jumps out to you?  I first notice the flowing river that not only quenches thirst but also brings gladness.  A glass of cold water in the midst of a hot day is a big gift and satisfies.  “Bulwark” to me implies something that not only protects like a fortress but also supports like water when thirsty and like gladness when we are sad. 

         The New Testament talks about our bodies being the “temple of God.”  So God satisfying our thirst, bringing gladness, dwelling within us, and allowing us not to fall all makes sense.  We stumble but He is our help and strength when we are under attack. 

         Even today we know about nations in “an uproar” and fighting each other but we are promised the God of Jacob as our fortress.  Our ancient foe, Satan, does seek to work us woe.  We are reminded that the God of Jacob is with us.  Like Jacob we face deserts, family dysfunctionality and challenges, as well as struggles with our own siblings and all those fears.  I suspect many of us can identify. God did not erase problems from Jacob’s life but walked with him and was his fortress, his river when thirsty and present in his crises.  The Reformation affirmed our relationship that is that close to God through prayer and Scripture – in our own language, without intermediaries and without having to pay indulgences.  A mighty fortress is our God!

         So as we contemplate the images today, ponder if you need the protection of a fortress, the refreshing of a river, the presence of an indwelling Spirit or calm from the political chaos around us.  Sing verse 1 again and read verses 4-7 of Psalm 46.  A mighty fortress is our God!  Blessings.

This week we have done a very brief overview of the book, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Bible.  The apostle John on the Isle of Patmos at age 90 sees a vision and records the message about end times.  It is highly symbolic and people have debated the imagery and timeline.  The interpretation “is above my pay grade!”  But there are certain glaring truths that are very clear.  John first recorded messages to seven churches in Asia Minor –  God sees and cares about his Church.  The world and life for Christians is not going to be about health, wealth and prosperity but will most likely involve suffering, trials and often persecution.  In the end there will be the casting out of evil into the lake of fire.  The new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem will descend and God will live among his people and be their light.  There will be no more death.  It is unimaginable.

         I first heard the song, “The King is Coming” at a women’s prayer conference in Kenya.  The lyrics were written by Gloria Gaither in 1970 and given to her husband Bill Gaither who wrote the music.  Gloria had always thought of the coming of Jesus as a time of judgment but one day she heard an evangelist and suddenly realized that Jesus is “The Master of Restoration.”  Jesus brings people together in marriage, mends broken relationships, and bridges the gaps between generations in families, His return will be met by streets lined with people who have been restored because of him, cheering and celebrating.  I pray you enjoy this song as much as I do!

The marketplace is empty,  No more traffic in the streets,
All the builders’ tools are silent,  No more time to harvest wheat;
Busy housewives cease their labors,  In the courtroom no debate,
Work on earth is all suspended  As the King comes thro’ the gate.

Chorus:
O the King is coming, The King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, And now His face I see;
O the King is coming,  The King is coming!
Praise God, He’s coming for me!

Happy faces line the hallways,  Those whose lives have been redeemed,
Broken homes that He has mended,  Those from prison He has freed;
Little children and the aged  Hand in hand stand all aglow,
Who were crippled, broken, ruined,  Clad in garments white as snow.

Chorus:

I can hear the chariots rumble,  I can see the marching throng,
The flurry of God’s trumpets  Spells the end of sin and wrong:
Regal robes are now unfolding,  Heaven’s grandstand’s all in place,
Heaven’s choir now assembled,  Start to sing “Amazing Grace!”

Chorus.

Revelation 21 and 22 bring us to the end of our epic story, The Bible.  We started 100 entries ago with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  We end today with the new heaven and the new earth and the new Jerusalem and Jesus coming to live among his people.  Our epic villain, Satan, tried to thwart our epic hero, God, but through weak and frail creatures like you and me, the story continued.  Yes there were intermissions, false starts, failed protégés and surprising unexpected heroes from very inconspicuous origins.  Victory was won not with a military intervention, without nuclear weapons, without panoramic plots but by ordinary people choosing God’s way of love, forgiveness and reconciliation.  Amazing.

         Chapter 21 tells of the coming of the new Jerusalem arriving like a bride for her wedding.  We cannot imagine the beauty described, golden streets and dazzling gates.  God will dwell among his people and be their light.  He will walk and talk with them as in the Garden of Eden.  There will be no more death or mourning.  Hard to imagine.  In fact, that little word “new” seems to precede most of the descriptions.  We cannot imagine a world were everything does not wear out and die and need to be replaced.  What is life without death?  Certainly a new adventure.

         Chapter 22 continues describing the presence of God, the river of the water of life flowing from a throne and trees of life to eat from.  John affirms he is only the recorder and we hear the words from Jesus that he is coming soon.  The Bible ends with the promise, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”  “Amen” means agreement and may it be so.  I do not understand what that new life will be like but I tire of this life of death and tragedy and injustice.

         So as you think of a new start, the ability to wipe the slate clean and start over again, what kind of story would you write for yourself?  How would you like to finish these sentences:  In the beginning..

• Context and scenery________________
• Community________________________
• Challenges (ie doing what)____________

Amen, Lord, may it be so.  Come soon!

Blessings as you wait.

Today our reading is Revelation 19 and 20.  We skip to the end of Revelation.  Again we have symbolism that has been debated by theologians especially in the 1970s.  The Left Behind series is a narrative interpretation of these chapters.  Is the thousand years mentioned in chapter 20 the millennium with a rapture coming before, in the middle or after this period?  The Great White Throne judgment is in these chapters too.  Theologians can’t decide and possibly it makes little difference to our everyday life.  As with the Trinity of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there seems to be a trinity of evil, Satan, the beast and the false prophet.

         Evil in all its forms will be confined to the abyss and the fiery lake for eternity, never to bother God’s creations again.  Evil will be defeated and justice restored.  The Great White Throne judgment seems to indicate that there will be some sort of judgment based on deeds and on whether our names are in the Book of Life.  Relationship with Jesus is the key factor here.  Just how rewards will be allotted we ill have to wait and see but we do know that our names are written down and we will be seen and understood by God who knows for all the pressures that we dealt with.  It will be personal and fair.  It will not be a scale weighing the good over the bad but a realization of relationship to Christ. 

         The end of evil, the judgment of people and lastly chapter 19 tells of a great celebration.  It is pictured as a wedding feast where the groom, Jesus Christ, is united with his bride, the Church universal and people of every tribe and nation.  What a glorious day!

         So what does that mean today to us?  We do not struggle against evil unseen and unappreciated.  The truth will come out taking everything into consideration.  Evil will be punished.  We need not carry the burden of vengeance.  The efforts and intents of our heart will be seen and rewarded.  We will be appreciated for who we really are and live into that reality unhampered by evil.  Thank you, Lord.  That’s hope!

Today we read Revelation 4-7.  John is invited to enter through a door into heaven, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”  John records this vision and theologians have debated the meaning for decades.  Chapter 4 focuses on a vision of God on his throne surrounded by 24 elders, presumably representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles.  “Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!” said Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz.  We see the creator of the world who is totally in control and who either because of divine patience or because of providing people the right of choice has allowed evil to impact our reality.  But that will not be forever.

         Chapter 5 focuses on a scroll in the right hand of God that is sealed but no one is qualified to open it until the Lamb that looks slain appears.  Jesus, the crucified, now appears uniting the Old Testament Pascal lamb and the crucified savior as one person, qualified to open the seals.

         Chapters 6 and 7 tells about the opening of the seals.  Out come horses of various colors representing war, civil dissent, famine, plague, persecution and earthquakes.  From this vision, it would not appear that things are going to get better and that faith is not about health, wealth and prosperity.  Persecutions, suffering and illness should not be a surprise to us. For many in our world today, it is reality.  Of comfort, though, is that John looks out and sees “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”  They are praising and singing. Great celebration is coming!

     How do these chapters impact me today and what do they mean for my life now?  As I turn on the evening news and hear of the problems confronting us, I realize there is a God who has talked about these trials, knows and is waiting for the right time to bring justice and joy.  Each generation has lamented, “Is now the time?”  We do not know but we know the time is coming.  Secondly I realize that I am not alone in whatever problem I am facing today.  Others have dealt with similar problems and God is fighting for me.  I am not alone and God is working for good.  Those are two big things I can thank God for today.  May we be faithful in our situations and keep our eyes on the Savior who conquered death and will reign for eternity.  Blessings.