I must confess, I have never seen anything like the intensity shown for Halloween this year—in stores, around homes, and now, of course, in advertisements for the most frightening movies imaginable. It began in earnest by midsummer, which made me wonder if it could really last all the way to October 31! But it surely has, demonstrating the grip that the fascination and “fear of death” (Heb. 2:15) has upon so many in our culture.
But for the Evangelical Christian, October 31 is not Halloween at all, but Reformation Day. And as we approach this time of year once again, my thoughts are drawn to one of the most significant sites from Martin Luther’s incredible story—the Wartburg Castle. How I wish I could go and hide there sometimes, away from all the cares and concerns of this life.
Luther spent nearly a year—from May of 1521 to March of 1522—in hiding inside the expansive Wartburg, which is located just outside of Eisenach, Germany, in the Thuringian Forest. It was there in that frightfully magnificent castle—which would genuinely serve as his mighty fortress—that Luther translated the New Testament into German in just 11 weeks, essentially creating a new language in the process.
A young Luther had spent several of his most formative years about three miles from the castle—in Eisenach, where the Cotta family hosted him as a schoolboy preparing to go to the University of Erfurt.
It is difficult to fathom that the castle had already been in existence for nearly 500 years by Luther’s time! The sprawling castle bears evidence of continuous construction, and one can only wonder how many sacrificed their lives in the process of building it, and even how many died just attempting to keep the castle functioning on a daily basis all through those centuries. The sights from the grounds around the castle, as well as within it, are too magnificent to describe. One can see the majesty of creation looking down from the castle grounds, and the depth of history that this site generates is almost palpable.
My purpose here is not to go into detail regarding the awkward splendor of the castle. Rather, it is to build upon the lessons that Luther found in the castle itself—when he drew upon its comparison to “God [as] our refuge and strength” (Ps. 46:1) in writing his greatest hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
The Psalm calls us to seek such “refuge” whenever we require “A very present help in trouble” (v. 1). The resulting promise is certain: “Therefore we will not fear” (v. 2a). This declaration is sure to hold, even in spite of the most cataclysmic circumstances that one could ever imagine, as they are described in the remainder of verses 2 and 3, as well as in verse 6a.
Whatever catastrophes threaten our serenity—even our very existence—today, we know that “The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge” (v. 7; repeated in v. 11). He has the authority and the capacity to halt the most fearsome calamities imaginable to man (vv. 4-5, 8-9).
The only obligation for the troubled believer, then, is simply to “Be still, and know that [He is] God” (v. 10). The sovereign Lord, “who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11), shall indeed have His way “among the nations” and “in the earth” (v. 10).
Yet here is a great reality to ponder: No one ever stumbled into the Wartburg Castle. You can only go up and enter it with great effort, even in our day of modern transportation. You must seek it to find it—but once inside, you can be forever free from the cares and dangers of the outside world.
In comparison, it does not take any great effort to hide yourself in God, but it does take complete intentionality. It requires us to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” (Ps. 37:7). Once inside, we can “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath” as well as the temptation to “fret” (Ps. 37:8).
Are you in need of a place to hide from “the cares of this world” (Matt. 13:22) today? Whatever may have you fearful or doubting, run up to the castle that the Lord has provided. This is not the Wartburg Castle, but a Person Who is infinitely superior to it—the Lord God Himself. Hide inside His Mighty Fortress. It is not composed of bricks and stones, but it reveals the very imminent presence of God Himself.
This Mighty Fortress is, indeed, our God, and before Him all the grisly terrors of this world evaporate
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Paul J. Scharf (M.A., M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary) is a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in Wisconsin, and serving in the Midwest. For more information on his ministry, visit sermonaudio.com/pscharf or foi.org/scharf, or email [email protected].
Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
The post The Reformation at 500: Hiding in the Castle :: By Paul J. Scharf appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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