Sometime between 1527 and 1529 a brother of mine named Martin Luther penned some words that ended up becoming a song that to this day thousands and thousands of people sing on a regular basis. Martin wrote these words almost 500 years ago, but the truth is that whether they were originally penned just days after the earth was formed or on the last day of it’s existence as we know it, his words would be just as relevant and true for those days than in the day they were written. The reason is because, although we live our lives with the image and perception that things are changing rapidly, it is a far deeper truth that things on earth are exactly as they have been since humanity fell, and they are exactly the way they will be until the fullness of Christ’s redemption is realized when He shows back up on the scene again, as He has promised. Nothing has changed at all, except for the many super-temporal matters that pass us by in this fleeting life. As far as the things that are lasting throughout history, though… Our fallen and broken nature, the chaos that we all have do deal with in life, the trials and sufferings, the timeless lessons needed to be learned, etc… things things just repeat themselves throughout the generations, and in everyone’s life on earth.
Above all these things, however… above all the wars without and wars within, above all the things that cycle back around over and over again throughout history… there is one unchanging truth that, although many have denied, no one has been able to prove to be unfailing, and that is the forever unchanging good and righteous character, and the almighty and all-triumphant power of the Creator God. This is the one truth that is not bound by time. All other truths are bound by time. There was a beginning to the cycles of history, whenever that day was, and there will one day be an end to these cycles that we all have to endure, whenever that day may be, but this truth… the truth that the eternal Creator God has always been faithful to demonstrate His unlimited power and unfailing goodness. This is the eternal truth that He has been proclaiming from before His creation existed, and He will continue to do so forever, after His creation is purified and made new.
If there is one thing that is worth entrusting ourselves and our lives to, it’s the unfailing and unchanging hand of this one and only good and almighty God, the Mighty Fortress who always has and always will reign triumphant, no matter what evils may come against Him or His will. That’s why millions of us have been singing this song for almost 500 years, and will be for years to come, for they have discovered that this is an undeniable, timeless truth.
Smiles Welch; 5-3-17; Athens, Ohio
A Mighty Fortress is Our God – Martin Luther
- 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 pow’r 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 pow’rs, 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.
smiles welch 