By Pastor Don Schatz

Forever Strong

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:7 New International Version

Some years ago, my wife and I were privileged to travel with a small group of colleagues to Hong Kong and then mainland China.  We spent 24 hours in Macau waiting for our Group Visa.  In Macau, we toured the grounds of an old Portuguese fort.  Just the front steps and the impressive façade remain.  Above ground, at least.  Behind the façade, basement rooms have been excavated and a layer of thick plexiglass laid over the whole area.  This enables one to walk above those rooms and view their contents and learn about each room’s purpose.

As remarkable as the structure and grounds are, as a fortress, it is just a façade.  It speaks of a past, and not all about its past was good.  But it no longer functions as a fortress, nor will it ever.

Occasionally one needs a fortress.  One needs a safe place, a strong place.  Sometimes, it is not a ‘place’ at all that we need for those things.  Sometimes it is a person, or more than one.  Say, like the church!

The Psalm verse today reminds us that God is our refuge.  He is with us.  He always will be with us.  He is not a façade, a fading memory of strength that used to be.  He is the Forever Strong, Forever Present Lord God who loves us so very much.

Human fortresses could be places of cruelty and torture.  Not so with our Lord.  He is a strong, safe, life-giving, life-sustaining fortress.  In prayer we practice the Lord’s presence.  He is not far removed from us.  In worship we celebrate in a ‘sanctuary’, the safe place for the church to remember that God is our sanctuary from hurt, pain, betrayal, physical, emotional and spiritual distress.

There is so much pain in our society.  And occasionally within us.  “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  We receive that Good News.  We live out that Good News today once again.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado