We sing “In these last days of deep distress, grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness.” (LSB 585) These are days of deep distress with wars and economic uncertainty and disturbing technologies and wickedness and persecution. It does us no good to pretend otherwise. But acknowledge those things to be true does not mean that we need to be filled with worry or anxiousness. Jesus already told you these things were going to happen. But He told you so that you would have peace…in Him. Our peace is not dependent upon the tranquility of the world around us. It would be silly to imagine that a world full of sinners, many of whom reject the Word of God and even hate it, a world driven by the father of lies, a world that seeks at every turn to live in complete contradiction to the design of our Creator, could ever be a source of peace. The world is bent on its own destruction. It will embrace anything and everything that promises ease and fun and pleasure without asking “What is the cost – spiritually, mentally, financially? What will I be trading away to have these things?” It cannot be so among us. Our peace and joy and hope will not, cannot, be found in the world. Our peace is only in Christ who has overcome the world, exposed its evils and its lies. Our peace is in Christ who has taken away our sin and tread down all our enemies under His feet. Our peace is in Christ who sits on His eternal throne ruling over all things in heaven and on earth. He hears our weary cries and has promised that He will help and deliver us. Let us gather together and pray as the beloved children of God and be filled with that peace which passes all human understanding. God grant it for Jesus’ sake. I look forward to seeing you all this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer