November 9: ONLY THE BEGINNING

“It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” Matthew 10:25

Martin Luther did not set out to cause strife or division. But his fervor for the Word of his Master so effectively revealed to him the love of our heavenly Father, that he could not but speak of the transforming power of that love. The written Word had become his daily companion. His own life had been revolutionized by gaining an understanding of the character of God and the saving power in the death and resurrection of His Son. In all likelihood, there was an element of naivety in Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the front door of the church. The items put forth were put forth for scholarly debate: to spark spiritual growth and to help the church be conformed to the image of Christ.

However, it is a fact that Satan guards his citadel upon the earth. His emissaries, having grown wealthy over the centuries of keeping the written Word from the masses and exploiting their illiteracy, were driven to action as they saw the effects of reformation in the lives of the people. The trial of Luther before the august assembly of the Diet at Worms was carefully managed; many of those in power were secretly persuaded to uphold the pope as leader of Christendom. Nevertheless, Luther had many friends in Germany. The country resembled today’s American political campaigns: placards were posted everywhere, on private homes and in the public squares, some condemning Luther and others in support of him. The ordeal closed with the excommunication of Martin Luther. He expressed the hope that his firmness would not be taken as rebellion. King Charles V submitted to the pressure of Rome to issue an edict against Luther, denouncing him as “Satan himself”.

The papists were jubilant that the Reformation had been “ended.” But they did not know that Luther had been kidnapped by friends and safely taken to Wartburg Castle. The following weeks of his “imprisonment” briefly seemed to confirm that he had been quietly killed and buried in the forest. But instead of extinguishing the gospel, Luther’s enemies were bewildered by a steady flow of tangible evidence that he was alive. Tract after tract came into circulation proclaiming the gospel and rebuking errors and superstitions promoted by the Roman Church and the sin that resulted from believing them. He also translated the New Testament into German. During that year of confinement and isolation Luther’s pen was never idle. He was humbly thankful to be removed from the public eye in order to direct attention to the eternal Author of truth.

Some of Luther’s well-meaning friends had urged a compromise with Rome, but that was out of the question. He commented: “The gospel of Christ cannot be preached without offense.” Far from being ended, the Reformation was beginning to dawn brightly. It will continue to get brighter until the return of the Lord Jesus…

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19