October 31, 2006
Dear Katie and Luke:
Today is Reformation Day, the day when Christians everywhere should be celebrating what happened on October 31, 1517, in Wittenburg, Germany. On that day, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door, and in God's providence he was a key instrument in beginning the Protestant Reformation as Luther and others, in protest of the teachings of the Medieval Catholic Church, began boldly proclaiming that a sinner's only hope of acceptance with a holy God is through faith alone in Christ alone.
On this Reformation Day, I thought you'd like to know that I'm thinking about my funeral. If I die before Christ returns, I am so grateful that God in His love saved a "stinking bag of maggots" (that's what Luther called himself) like me by His grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and this was not a result of my works, so glory be to God alone (Eph. 2:1-10). Would you please be sure that whoever preaches at my funeral proclaims this grand doctrine of justification through faith alone in Christ alone?
Also, whether I die a young, middle-aged, or old man, would you somehow implement into the funeral service Martin Luther's great hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," which is based on Psalm 46:1? Just look at these awesome, hope-inspiring words:
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 doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost 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.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
A common expression in our day is "Life is hard, and then you die." Well, someone recently pointed out that, for the Christian, "Life is hard, and then you live." How true it is that for all whom God has saved, for all who have renounced their sin and have faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ, life is (often) hard, and then beyond this earthly life or at the return of Christ, they live. Why? Because a Mighty Fortress is our God. With Christ on our side, glory is guaranteed.
Is Christ on your side? I pray so! And then, at my funeral, you will be able to sing "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" with hope and joy.
To God be the Glory,
Dad
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