A Mighty Fortress is Our God!

      A Couple weeks ago a few of the students and I went up to Königstein for the afternoon to see the castle there and also the mountains. I've been there before in the spring, but it was nice for some of the new students to see it.

It's a beautiful town.

Here's the town from the Top of the tower.

The remains of the castle. I can only imagine what it would have been like to visit this castle in the days of its use.

The Group of us that went. Johannes (Austrian), Me, Harri (Finnish), Sherry (Chinese), and Silja (Finnish). 

We actually all went down inside the castle where it was pitch-black darkness. Like you couldn't see anything. And it really brought to mind when in the Bible it talks about Utter Darkness. Like your eyes just keep trying to adjust, but they can't there is no light there at all. 

10          Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
    and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
    and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

So many people in this world are in utter darkness, but God is light, and has also called us to light the world with the knowledge and glory of Him. When we came out of the darkness it was amazing to see everything in the light again. So it is the same, and much greater, when people who are in darkness come into the light of God's love for them.

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

doth seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,

our striving would be losing,

were not the right man on our side,

the man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth, his name,

from age to age the same,

and he must win the battle.

And though this world with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed

his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo, his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,

no thanks to them, abideth;

the Spirit and the gifts our ours,

though him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also;

the body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still;

His kingdom is forever.

Amen.