Deeper Life #181

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

—Psalm 91:2

IF YOU ARE A WORKER for Jesus Christ, open your eyes wide to the fact that sin and misery and anguish are not imaginary. They are real. Jangled and tortured nerves are as real as healthy nerves. Listen to this, taken from the life of Martin Luther:

“I am utterly weary of life. I pray the Lord will come forthwith and carry me hence. Let him come, above all, with his last Judgment: I will stretch out my neck, the thunder will burst forth and I shall be at rest.”—And having a necklace of white agates in his hand at the time he added: “O God, grant that it may come without delay. I would readily eat up this necklace today for the Judgment to come tomorrow.” The Electress Dowager, one day when Luther was dining with her, said to him, “Doctor, I wish you may live forty years to come.” “Madam,” replied he, “rather than live forty years more, I would give up my chance of Paradise.”

That was Luther at the end of his life. What produced it in him? He saw the Reformation wreak havoc, not good; he was too near it. He was too enmeshed with his responsibilities to enjoy the fruit of his labor.

Prayer Thought: Keep me balanced, O Lord, in my outlook on life.

SUGGESTED READING: Psalm 91