Dear friends in Christ,
We continue our survey of Church History from the book of Professor E.A.W. Krauss from our St. Louis seminary of a century ago. This month we conclude our look at the life and work of Pastor F.K.D. Wyneken. We will read about the end of the life of this beloved servant of the Lord.
45.5 [part 2]—Friedrich Konrad Dietrich Wyneken
A chief characteristic of this godly man was his great genuine humility. Because it was part of his nature it was very obvious in him. He truly regarded himself as nothing; in his eyes he was small and insignificant not only before God but also before people. He knew of nothing in himself to boast about, but only boasted of God and His grace. He associated with the young pastors like he would with siblings. When, as president, he came to visit, he came only as friend, helper, adviser to the weakest pastor and teacher; he gladly received counsel, chastisement and instruction.
His wholehearted humility was certainly apparent when, due to his weakness, he could no longer work as sole pastor. He then became an assistant pastor to his son. He was even the one who proposed this to the congregation. They agreed in order to satisfy him and to make his office easier for him.
Because Wyneken knew his own weaknesses, he was also merciful toward others. It is true that he was roused to indignation by how miserable and mean so many people were, but he had heartfelt compassion on the fallen sinner. There was nothing more detestable to him than when people judged others harshly; even though he otherwise kept silent when much was said that was incorrect, he certainly opened his mouth when someone was cruelly judged. He often complained of the lack of merciful love, particularly in the admonitions and punishments when church discipline practiced. For him there was no fall into sin that was so great and severe that the person could not immediately think about being rescued from it; for him no sinner was too bad or too depraved that love and kindness could not be shown; he wanted to save and to rescue and only disciplined and rebuked the sinner in order to rescue.
The winter of 1874/75 was one of especially great suffering for Wyneken. His wretched asthma prevented him from getting enough oxygen in the humble rooms of the parsonage; and yet he also could not be outside much because he was especially sensitive to the cold. It was obvious to his family that he would not be able to survive one more such winter in the old house.
They sought advice and help from friends and doctors. Finally, all recognized that the best thing for him would be to go to San Francisco, California to his dear son-in-law, Pastor J. Buehler, in order to gain strength, God willing, in the climate there which was generally lauded as being healthy; he would then either return to Cleveland, recovered, or, in case it seemed more advantageous he would receive a call there. The congregation, too, approved this plan and although he had to go with a heavy heart the 65 year old man decided to undertake the long, tiring journey. His son had been called to Springfield as professor and was expected there any day. They had already tried to elect a new pastor several times, but they were still not been successful. He feared that his dear congregation would be completely without a pastor for a time.
At the beginning of October he left Cleveland, which had become so dear to him, and went to far off San Francisco. He arrived in Chicago on 07 October and remained there a few days with the family of the merchant L. B., which was very dear to him, and continued his trip to California on the 11th.
May the following portion of a letter that he wrote to a friend in J., show how his trip went and how it was in San Francisco. It will also show how good humor alternated with sad hours and also how the well-being of his congregation and the entire Church weighed greatly on his heart:
San Francisco, Cal. 15 December 1875
My dear brother X!
…I have indeed come closer to the heavenly kingdom [China] by several thousand miles and see its pony-tailed citizens daily in numbers on the streets of this cosmopolitan city… I visited them recently in their quarter of the city. It is better for someone to leave their nose home because of the odors-- and none of them smell like cologne. Although half-roasted pigs, sausages of a wonderful sort and all kinds of baked goods hang outside, I still could not decide what to eat. But next time I want to visit---- one of its ornately decorated restaurants. I visited their temple but cannot give a description of it….
My trip was very favorable. Our faithful God and Lord was very kind; splendid weather; received a lower bunk also by the kindness of a young fellow traveler, although in the office I always had the luck, in spite of my notions about my age and the impossibility of climbing into the upper bunk, of being assigned the upper bunk. The trip itself was endlessly boring. Always the same treeless desolation until the last day when we came to the mountain ranges, where it was interesting until Sacramento, where everything was again dry and dried out, deserted and desolate.
The weather was splendid until then; always the brightest clearest sunshine, which then often suddenly turn into unpleasant cold hours so that one had to dress like in wintertime in Cleveland—at very least one always had to travel with an overcoat. For three days now, we have had the well-known rainy weather—to the great delight of the dried out ground. What effect the climate will have on my bodily health, I cannot say; up to now I have suffered from a rather stubborn cold. Otherwise, as a whole, I feel better but I attribute this more to the grand idleness and the happiness of being with my children than to the climate. Yet, it is hard at my age to have to be so far from my wife and home. I will certainly not remain here. I am definitely not the man I need to be in order to start over here again. Until now I could not check out the neighboring cities because I do not feel well enough to be able to attempt it—perhaps later when it pleases God to take my cold from me and to strengthen my chest and voice. All is good with me. He is very kind and it gives me such a great joy that He is even involved in the smallest affairs of life, as I again experienced in every part of the trip. That one is not more thankful and that faith and confidence do grow shows, by the way, the unfathomable corruption of humanity. Or am I the only one? It is dreadful that in only a few cases the Lord still manages to win the heart to full childlike trust. Thus for many years the text I chose for my funeral sermon is: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” [Rm. 7.24]
This small faith once again shows itself regarding my dear congregation; I am always strongly condemning myself for having forsaken them before another pastor was actually installed, although I only did it because they themselves insisted in an assembly that I should go and I also did not think that Pastor N. could have refused the call. How this will yet turn out, God knows; and if I only firmly believed that He knew it!
Now, the Lord is indeed faithful, acts according to His mercy and not according to our sins and foolishness. May He hear my fervent prayer and give the congregation a faithful pastor who cares for the soul. They, too, pray for it—I know that; in fact all of Christendom prays for it and I should peacefully rest content with it—if only I could better do it.
It is the same with the filling of school positions. It all caused me great turmoil and troubled me from fully enjoying my happiness, being with my children, and witnessing their happy life together.
Your letter, my dear brother, was the first that I received here; for that my hearty thanks. I must wait a long time before I receive one from home.
Yours, together with all institutions of the Synod, as well as all the God-pleasing ones of Christendom, I daily bring in prayer before God. As long as it goes well for them, it also goes well for Christendom. Old age always brings many fears with it; although our God certainly does not suffer any weakness of old age.
Now, my dear brother, I wish to conclude and once more look after the twins, who, like the other children give me unending joy although old age made too stiff to romp about with them as I would like.
In hearty love, your, F. Wyneken
The dear man was soon convinced that even in California there was no cure for him. His cold and his asthma plagued him more than ever. In addition to that the worries about his congregation tormented him, and even though he was by dear children and grandchildren, he was missing the normal comfort—he missed the rest of the children and his best nurse, his wife. When the new year began, he already had thoughts of going home.
In part to keep him there longer, in part to see her dear children and her sick husband, when it became necessary to accompany him home, his brave wife, in the middle of winter, in February 1876, traveled to San Francisco and then, when she arrived there, again assumed the care of her dear husband.
In the meantime Wyneken had preached several times. He again did so on Judica Sunday [The Fifth Sunday in Lent] (02 April) and showed from the appointed text, John 8. 46-59 with usual thoroughness: From where it comes that the world cannot endure our Lord Jesus Christ. He could not preach a sermon that he had planned to preach in San Jose because his asthma caused him terrible cramps and his entire condition got worse. All the more fervently he longed to be back in Cleveland at his congregation, and 04 May was the day appointed for departure.
On Tuesday evening, 02 May, the dear father wrote his final letter. It was to his old friend A. Einwaechter in Baltimore. It serves as a testimony to all of his frame of mind. It reads in its entirety this way:
San Francisco, 02 May 1876
My dear old faithful friend Einwaechter!
I cannot leave the letter of my dear son-in-law without heartily and brotherly greeting you and all your dear family, as well as all my old friends like Muhly, Thiemeyer, Aichele, Triede and who still live with them. My heart is always warmed when I think of my dear Baltimore and the many friends and brothers, whom the Lord gave me there. May He preserve us by His grace in the right faith unto our end so that we again find ourselves in heaven before the throne of our most praised God and Savior! That will give joy!
We have gone through here a sad but yet, as I hope, a salutary time for our inner life. Buehler will have written to you about it. After all this, I have gained nothing for my health by my stay here. As for me, I am, by God’s, grace very well. I know and believe that what the Lord sends us is the best that his love in heaven and on earth can find. Of course, I am sorry about my little congregation because presumably I will not be able to do much service in it. Thank God that He sent it a very capable man in the Lord, Pastor Niemann, Professor Walther’s son-in-law. In several days we will set out, as God wills, for our return trip. I commend myself to the fervent intercession of you and your dear brothers. Farewell in the faithful Lord. Together with me, my dear wife greets most pleasantly.
In heartfelt brotherly love, Yours, F. Wyneken
On 03 May “he did not feel completely well, went out with his wife, in the evening ate with a good appetite, was right cheerful and slept well in the night.”
On 04 May “early in the morning around six, he again felt tightness in his chest, but did not complain. He then had hot towels placed on his chest and said to his wife, ‘Here, mama, lay it right here in the pit of the stomach.’ Pastor Buehler and his wife stood on the stairs to hear whether an attack would again come.” The mother “went to the door and said, ‘I think this time it isn’t bad; it already left.’ At the same moment she looked around, her dear husband lay down and his eyes turned somewhat up. She called, ‘Come quickly, papa is dying!’ As all of them were at the bed, he put out his head, firmly closed his eyes, lightly breathed twice and moved his lips” to speak. “Unfortunately his final word could not be understood. Without doubt it was the name, Jesus,’”
With it, the brave hero breathed out his soul, and fell asleep gently and blessed. It was Thursday morning, 04 May, 25 minutes before 7. The day appointed for his departure ended his journey in this valley of sorrow. He reached his eternal rest in the heavenly Jerusalem.
The days of his life amounted to one week less than 66 years.
The news of the death of this beloved father spread with lightning speed throughout the United States and in part stirred up fervent joy because he had now come to his long desired rest; and in part deep sorrow over the great loss.
The announcement of the death arrived while the Western District of the Synod was gathered. Right away a Service of Mourning was decided upon, which then took place on 07 May (Jubilate Sunday [The Third Sunday after Easter]) in the overflowing Trinity Church. The long-time friend and colleague of the deceased, Pastor Buenger, preached the memorial sermon on Romans 7. 24, 25, the word of God Wyneken himself had chosen many years before for his funeral sermon.
In the meantime the decision was made by the parties both in San Francisco and in Cleveland to bury the beloved body in the latter city. Thus on Saturday, 06 May, at the place of death, a service was organized at which Pastor Buehler preached, “but almost broke down and the hearers with him who had grown indescribably fond of the blessed one” and early morning on 07 May, the body, accompanied by Mrs. Wyneken and her son-in-law started off, first to St. Louis, which they entered on the evening of the 13th—the birthday of the deceased.
On the following Sunday (Cantate Sunday [The Fourth Sunday after Easter]) in Trinity Church where the body was laid out, Professor Walther gave a memorial sermon on 1 Corinthians 2.2: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
On 15 May, the body reached Ft. Wayne where it was accompanied by pastors, those from the Secondary School and many congregational members, to St. Paul’s Church where it was laid out. At the funeral service numerous relatives and the former children of the church of the deceased gathered from the city and surrounding areas. Dr. W. Sihler gave the sermon on the first part of Proverbs 10.7: “The memory of the righteous is blessed.”
During the following night the grieving widow accompanied by her son and her son-in-law completed the long, tiring journey. They arrived early in the morning on 16 May in Cleveland with their deceased. The preparations for burial had already been made and they were waiting for the body.
It was laid out in the church for a short time so that whoever wished to could one more time see the face of this greatly loved physician of the soul. The funeral took place in the afternoon. The large, beautiful church was crowded full; many had to turn away because it was not possible to find a spot. Not only Lutherans came to show the deceased final honor, but also Reformed, Catholics, Methodists, and even people without any church at all. All of them knew, honored, highly-esteemed the “old pastor.”
Pastor Th. Brohm, also a long-time, much loved friend and comrade in arms of the blessed, preached the funeral sermon on Hebrews 13.7.
At its conclusion, Professor W. F. Lehmann, gave another memorial sermon in English, “in which he too painted before the eyes of those assembled the picture of the blessed.” He did it in the name and on behalf of the faculty of the seminary in Columbus, Ohio, which by this beautiful way wanted to show their love and esteem to “Father Wyneken” who was also honored throughout the Ohio Synod.
The funeral itself was conducted by Pastor Niemann “among heartfelt sympathy and many tears of the bodily and spiritual children for their father asleep in Christ.”
On the evening of 28 May (Exaudi Sunday [The Sixth Sunday after Easter]) Pastor C. Frincke finally preached one last memorial sermon in St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore for its former, still unforgotten shepherd.
Remember your teachers, who have spoken the word of God to you, consider how their lives ended and keep imitating their faith [Heb. 13.7, rev.]
So far Professor Krauss
Life Chain: Can you spend one hour in silent prayer to witness for the dignity of human life?
Please join us for the annual National Life Chain, October 7th, 2018 between 2 and 3 PM, at the corner of Church and N. Main St. in Elmira (Wisner Park). We will stand for one hour, holding signs supporting the dignity of all human life, in silent prayer, in solidarity with groups across the country doing the same thing at the same time, rain or shine. For more information, call Steve at 607-739-9282.
Beware of Reformation anniversaries!
“The great ecumenist and defender of confessional Lutheranism, Herman Sasse, once said, ‘Beware of Reformation anniversaries!’ He writes, ‘In view of the many Reformation anniversaries which we have celebrated…one might well ask whether we have now had enough of looking back to the past, whether we have heard enough speeches and read enough anniversary articles.’ The purpose of Reformation anniversaries rarely promotes the primary theme of the Reformation, which is encapsulated in Thesis 1 of the Ninety-five Theses: ‘When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” [Mt. 4.17], he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.’” [Albert B Collver, Director of Church Relations—Assistant to the President LC-MS, CTQ, vol. 78, January/April 2014 pg.157]
REFORMATION CONVOCATION 2018
On Saturday, 27 October, join fellow Lutherans from all over our circuit at Grace in Vestal as we welcome Dr. Gene Veith from our Ft. Wayne seminary. Dr. Veith will lead our circuit convocation at 9.30. At 11am Divine Service will be held. After Divine Service a lunch will be served.
JOURNEYS OF PAUL TOUR - Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Patmos, with 3 day cruise of Greeks Islands included (April 27 - May 7, 2019) Contact Pastor Darold Reiner, retired LCMS Pastor & former International LWML Counselor, for a brochure: 406-890-1149 or imhis38@gmail.com
“Help older adults in our community”
Are you looking for a way to help in your community? Faith in Action Steuben County might be just what you want! Faith in Action volunteers provide older adults (60+) with rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, to run errands, pay friendly home visits, give a little help with housework and yard work, all designed to help them live comfortably in their homes for as long as possible. You only do the tasks you want to do, you choose when you can, and your mileage can be reimbursed. To sign up or get more information, call (607) 936-0941 or visit www.fiasteuben.org. As one of our grateful recipients says, “When family can’t, Faith in Action can!”
LUTHER AND COLUMBUS DAY
In his chronology “Computation of the Years of the World,” first published in 1541, Luther makes an unflattering observation about the rediscovery of the Americas: “a new disease, the French disease, otherwise known as the Spanish disease, which was brought to Europe, so it is said, from the newly discovered islands of the East. One of the great signs before the Last Day!” (A.E., I, pg, 207) This is interesting because Luther refers to the Americas as being “East.” Luther knew that the explorers sailed from Western Europe (Spain, Portugal, hence the “Spanish disease”), so how, then, could he call the islands East? Answer: Luther, like the vast majority of the people, knew that the earth was round. Thus, sailors sailing from western Europe could reach islands in the east! The real question was a mathematical one: what was the circumference of the earth? Most people thought the circumference of the earth was much smaller than it really is. In fact, some may have been influenced by the Apocryphal book of 2 Esdras: “On the third day you commanded the waters to be gathered together in a seventh part of the earth; six parts you dried up and kept so that some of them might be planted and cultivated and be of service before you” (6.43). Columbus thought that the earth was 1/7 water and 6/7 land. Thus, the east coast of Asia couldn’t be all that far from Europe’s west coast. Thus, for Luther, the newly discovered islands west of Europe were the “newly discovered islands of the East.”
SOLA SCRIPTURA—Scripture Alone!
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT LUTHERANS—THEY MEAN IT NEGATIVELY BUT IT IS REALLY POSITIVE BECAUSE THEY ADMIT WE TEACH NOTHING BUT THE WORD OF GOD ALONE!
Luther notes: “The Lutherans,” [the sectarians say], “are the only ones who do not have any sense; who do not preach Christ; who do not have the Holy Spirit, the gift of prophecy, and the authentic interpretation of Scripture. Our [the sectarian] theologians are not inferior to them [the Lutherans] in any way; in fact, in many respects they excel them, because they follow the Spirit and teach spiritual things. They [the Lutherans], by contrast, have not yet attained to the true theology; but clinging to the letter, they teach nothing but the catechism, faith, love and the like.”[EMPHASIS ADDED] [American Edition, vol. 26, pg. 414]
A REFORMATION DEVOTION
And as they continued to ask Him, [Jesus] stood up and said to them. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to thrown a stone at her.” John 8.7
It is 05 October 1544; the church in Torgau is being consecrated. Martin Luther climbs into the pulpit in the new castle church. A half circle, like a crow’s nest, it hangs across from the entryway in the middle of the ship of the church. On it three biblical accounts are pictured—[see picture above] symbolic images of the foundational pillars of the Reformation. In the middle is the 12 year old Jesus in the temple pointing to the Bible: Sola scriptura –Scripture alone. To the right the scene where Jesus casts out from the temple those selling and the money changers: Sola fide—faith alone. And then on the left side, facing the altar, Jesus and the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you.” [John 8.11] Sola gratia–grace alone. Forgiveness, life and salvation are completely God’s gift.
This is the legacy of the Reformation depicted in stone: The free Gospel of God’s grace for sinners which had been once again discovered in Holy Scripture. In reliance upon the merit of Jesus we stand before God pardoned, justified, washed clean, as His dear children.
Grace also applies to the sinner next to me. There is no room for praise of self—or do you think that you do not need this grace? “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” [John 8. 7] Do you want to be rid of your sin? Do you want to stand rightly before God? Then look to Jesus. Listen to the word of your Savior. Look at His heart burning with love. It moved Him to come into the world for lost and condemned people, also for you, in order to pay for sin on the cross, also for your sin and so to obtain forgiveness, life and salvation—also for you. “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” [Rm. 11.6].
Thank You, Lord, for Your unmerited grace, which saves even me. Amen.
[By Pr. Andreas Drechsler, in God Is For Us, 31 July 2018]
THE WORD OF GOD—WHY WAS IT WRITTEN DOWN?
Although this is written in a completely different context, the point is interesting and goes to the Sola Scriptura of the Reformation: “Now Plato was disturbed by written discourse because it has ‘no reticences or properties toward different classes of persons’ and because, if an individual goes to it with a question in his mind, it ‘always gives one unvarying answer’.” {Emphasis added] [Richard Weaver, Ideas Have Consequences, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1948, pg. 95]
MORE ON THE THIRD COMMANDMENT—KEEPING THE SABBATH
IN A RECENT NEWSLETTER [AUGUST] WE READ IN THE ARTICLE “A NATION UNDER GOD, A NATION THAT KEEPS THE SABBATH” THESE VITAL WORDS:
“The bottom line is this: when the true God is marginalized, someone else or something else—the army, the press, the government, a single leader—plays the role of God, and that is dangerous indeed. I want ours to be a nation under God, not primarily out of pious considerations, but for my own safety’s sake!
“This is just one of the many frightening faces of an ideological secularism that we have increasingly allowed to dominate public life in America..…
“[In the past in our nation] Sunday did indeed have a distinctive texture: businesses were closed, sporting activities were suspended, and almost everyone went to church. The honoring of the Sabbath—stipulated in the third of the Ten Commandments—is a way to remind us of the Lordship of God, and hence it is a supremely effective means to hallow the country. It is sad that we have lost any sense of Sunday’s difference: it is now more or less another weekend day off. It’s sad, yes, but if my argument above is right, it’s also more than a little frightening.”
[Robert Barron, Seeds of the Word: Finding God In The Culture, Word of Fire Ministries, 2015, pg. 153]
THEN THERE IS THIS QUOTE FROM AN AUTHOR WRITING ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH TRIED TO WIPE OUT CHRISTIANITY. –A FRIGHTENING CONNECTION
“Sunday was our weekly holiday, but of course it has lost much of its religious significance in the U.S.S.R. Sunday today is the main shopping day, and the streets are crowded with people hurrying not to church, but to the stores to stand in line.”
Ciszek, Walter J. With God in Russia: The Inspiring Classic Account of a Catholic Priest's Twenty-three Years in Soviet Prisons and Labor Camps (p. 343). HarperOne. Kindle Edition.
STEWARDSHIP ARTICLE FROM OUR MISSOURI SYNOD
Why do we give? Is it simply because God commands us to? Or is there more to it? To be sure, the instruction and Word of God in the Bible says we should give, and this is sufficient to encourage us to give (Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:7; Gal 6:6).
But there’s more to it than just obligation. We’re not just trying to fulfill a work of the Law. We are bearing fruits of the Spirit given to us by our Father in heaven through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we’re not just doing what our Father said, we’re also doing what He did.
Children emulate their parents. When they grow up they often carry many of the same mannerisms and characteristics as their parents, but there is more to it than that. Children copy their parents even on a more mundane level. They watch how their parents cross their legs, how they fold their hands, how they stand and sit and walk, how they do and say most everything.
And children try to copy it, which can be quite humorous when parents wish they wouldn’t. It can be uncomfortable and embarrassing if a child copies or repeats something less than polite that they learned from a parent. Sitcoms thrive on these situations. It only happens because children emulate their parents because they want to be like them.
We are the children of God, by grace, through faith. In Holy Baptism, God the Father declares of us what He declared of Jesus at His Baptism in the Jordan: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God the Father claims us as His own. He takes away all our sins, and in exchange He gives us His righteousness, His purity, His holiness, and His Spirit, by which we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
We are born again, born from above, born of water and the Spirit, to a new life in Christ as His children. We are sons of God in Christ, through Baptism. And since we are sons, we are heirs – heirs who share in the glory of the Son of God. The inheritance is ours because of the Father’s grace and mercy, His generosity in sending His Son in time to save us for all eternity.
And this is why we give generously of our income to the work of the church. We want to be like our heavenly Father. We want to emulate His generosity by being generous ourselves. We give to the work of the Church because we have witnessed the generous giving of our Father in heaven.
More than that, we are recipients of it. It is because we have received God our Father’s gifts that we desire to give ourselves. And His gifts are not just spiritual. They are temporal and earthly as well. As the Small Catechism teaches in the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer:
“Give us this day our daily bread.” What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”
In other words, God gives us everything we need for the care of both body and soul. His generosity knows no bounds. Therefore, we sit down at the beginning of the year, the beginning of the month, or the beginning of the week to set aside a generous portion of God’s daily bread for His work in the Church.
We don’t do this simply because He has commanded us so to do; it is because we, as His children by grace, want to emulate His generosity in our own lives. He is our Father; we are His children. And children want to be like their parents.
Do You See Yourself in the ‘White Robed Throngs’?
It’s a vast picture of community in the end times, provided by the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle John’s pen. The image recorded in Revelations 7:9-16, features our own immortality in these Words:
“9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “10Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Interestingly, the throngs were not alone . . .
11“And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God. . . “
The beloved disciple wondered who these people were. He received the Spirit’s answer:
“. . . And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Do you envision yourself in that ‘white robed throng’ described in this immortal destination perspective? It is a profound design for all believers to anticipate. Sadly, many who claim faith, don’t comprehend themselves in that throng. Could this shape the way people plan for (or fail to plan for) earthly life’s end?
Listen to how the Spirit describes their/our future?
15“Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
For us, who realize ourselves in this throng, the presence of Christ is again confirmed by this inspired revelation. Christ’s presence in His Word and in simple elements-Wine-Bread-Water, brings the peace that allows us to be still, living life that is truly life. Baptized believers have purpose to live with the light and preference of praise, on earth’s sojourn.
The LCMS Foundation was created by the Church-Body in 1958 to help God’s people get ready for a glorious future and leave behind a witness to the Lamb. For more information or guidance begin your journey here. For more information, contact Robert Wirth, LCMS Foundation Gift Planner @ robert.wirth@lfnd.org or 716-863-4427.
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