Soli Deo Gloria

Soli Deo Gloria

We know we are “where we have always been . . . in God’s hands.” But, to change the figure slightly, “Thou hast . . . laid thine hand upon me.” And what does that mean? It’s a gentle touch of reassurance, God gently laying His hand on our shoulder as if to reassure and comfort us, to remind us, “You’re not alone; I’m here with you.”

 

It means we are chosen by God,

It means we are directed by God,

It means we are strengthened by God,

It means we are protected by God,

It means we are comforted by God.

 

Remember those moments in your life when someone you love and have confidence in, touched you on your shoulder and even without a word gave you that warm reassurance that helped you pluck up your courage and go on?

I am reminded of that dramatic moment in 1521 at the Diet of Worms (in Germany) when Martin Luther stood before the assembled leaders of the Holy Roman Empire to tell them “my conscience is captive to the Word of God! Here I stand! I can do no other.” And Justification by faith spread throughout Europe, Sola Fide, Soli Gracia, Soli Deo Gloria. [Salvation is Only by Grace through faith alone, to God be the Glory.]

 

As Luther made his way through that large gathering, a knight reached over and patted him on the shoulder and told him (of course, in German), “Pluck up thy courage, Little Monk, in the name of God, go on!” It was a propitious moment and affected the whole course of history—including your own

God has laid His hand upon us and we have never been the same. In the name of God, we do go on. And God uses us for His glory and the spread of the gospel and the edification and encouragement of our brethen in Christ. What will it be like to see Jesus in His glory and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

[Note: I took that picture in 1980 when my wife and I were on our first visit to Europe on our 25th Anniversary. The building is on the town square across from the Cathedral in Heidelberg, Germany.]

 

Safely into His heavenly kingdom

“The Lord will . . . bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” 2 Timothy 4:18 ESV

            What a glorious promise to sustain us even in the darkest night! Sometimes we can't see where we're going or what God is doing to get us through the next predicament, but we have the assurance that all is well and God is at work and will accomplish what He set out to do in our lives and will use us for His glory and our good.

          The time of Paul's “departure” has almost arrived and surely he must be getting tired! What a life God led Him through—all the way! Shortly after Jesus Himself confronted him on the Damascus Road and brought him to Himself, Jesus said, “I will show him what great things he must suffer for my sake.” And suffer he did and in the end, Paul wrote, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 ESV

            Paul was alone, but he was never alone because “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

           Many times God had rescued Paul from death until He was ready to bring Him safely into His heavenly kingdom. Then God brought him safely through death into life everlasting and the glory of heaven. So shall it be with us.

That Christ may be all and in all 

       We stand in an unbroken historical line straight back to Jesus. And it is Jesus who many times attested to the truth and reliability of scripture as given by God Himself. ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 ESV And He was quoting Old Testament scripture when He said that. And in another place He testified, “the Scripture cannot be broken.” John 10:35 And in that wonderful scene on the Emmaus Road after the Resurrection, Jesus walked along with the two disciples “and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 The Old Testament scriptures are about Jesus.

       The New Testament scriptures are also about Jesus—all of them. It was He who inspired them and gave them authority. Jesus told the disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Mt. 28:18 ESV The night before He died, Jesus told the disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit who would “bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” So it was the authoritative words of Jesus that brought about the New Testament. He told the disciples that they had two Comforters or “paracletos” “called alongside to help” first Jesus and then the Holy Spirit. “I will not leave you as orphans,” He told them, “I will come to you.” And He came in the person of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit inspired or “God-breathed” all the New Testament scriptures as well as the Old Testament.

       So everything centers around Jesus Himself, including the inspiration of scripture, “that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 That's why we can sing, “From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.” Be thankful that you were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) and that He gave us the scriptures and preserved them for two thousand years so that you were able to hear the gospel and were convicted by the Holy Spirit so that He brought you to Christ.

                                                               --Pastor Burnside