The Lutheran Hour
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"God is Faithful"
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Text: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
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Prayer: Blessed Heavenly Father, God of all mercy, lift up the weary; encourage the discouraged; strengthen the weak; and console the dying. Even though we often fail You, O Lord, You are always faithful to us. You do not treat us as we deserve. Blessed Lord, through Your living and life-giving Word, revive us and give us, in Jesus, a hope that is living and eternal. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Two thousand years ago a bustling city stood at the crossroads of a flourishing culture. The city was Corinth, and the country and culture was Greece. Corinth was critically positioned at the crossroads of commerce. Many goods flowed through this city, as they moved from the north to the south. But that’s not all. Corinth was also a major harbor city located on a busy east-west waterway. Interestingly, the town of “Korinthia” still exists today. So that you can understand a bit better where Corinth was, remember the Balkan wars that occupied television news so much a few years ago? Well, Korinthia is located roughly 300 to 500 miles south of this war-torn area.
It was in this Grecian city of Corinth in St. Paul’s day that the streets were clanging with peddlers, and the wharfs were echoing with sounds of heavy cargo being loaded and unloaded. One can imagine hearing the “clop-clop-clop” of horses’ hooves on the stone streets, and the cry of the salesmen peddling goods from countries far and wide. Corinth was indeed a beehive of commercial activity.
But Corinth was also a magnet for vice and sexual immorality. In fact, in those days, if you used the expression that a particular person “acted like a Corinthian,” this meant this person was very, very, immoral. And for that reason the City of Corinth of 2,000 years ago has a lot to say to us today.
You see, in our fast-paced era in a time of unbridled sexual looseness and lack of integrity, many of the conflicts, frustrations, and challenges we face today are very much like those that occurred in Corinth two millennia ago. Because of the lack of godly morality in Corinth, families were often broken; because of a lack of integrity, there was not much trust in many business dealings. It was not unusual for friends to turn upon each other; and it was not unusual for acquaintances to be constantly suspicious of one another; nobody seemed to be faithful.
In the midst of these difficult conditions, the apostle Paul wrote words of encouragement and hope to the small community of Grecian Christians. The apostle Paul encouraged these people by reminding them, “God is always faithful.” With this pointed statement and promise of the Lord in those days, St. Paul lifted up the weary, strengthened the weak, and gave hope to the dying.
This, my friends, may also be the type of uplifting message you need at this hour. Perhaps you haven’t been to church recently. Maybe you’re one of those individuals that hardly ever go to church. Or perhaps your parents were simply not church-going people. Whatever the case may be, you need to know that even though others may let you down, and even though your friends may disappoint you–your closest friends may desert you–“God is always faithful.” In Jesus Christ, God is the one friend you can always count on. Just as Jesus told His disciples, He is telling you today: “I will never leave you as an orphan.” In Deuteronomy, we read, “Know therefore the Lord your God is the faithful God” (Deuteronomy 7:9). In Psalm, we read, “Your loving kindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies” (Psalm 36:5).
So friends, don’t give up. Don’t become discouraged simply because you are neither rich nor famous. Last January, the New York Times, in its “National Report” section, told about a retired Navy admiral. This man was the son of one of the most famous World War II admirals. For most of his life, this famous military man was used to being “in charge.” However, as he became older and “less in charge,” he and his wife decided to leave this world, which they did with an overdose of sleeping pills.
Now, after the suicide, the admiral’s daughter said, “Perhaps some people find strength in spiritual misery, [but my parents never did].”
You see, this admiral and his wife wanted nothing to do with religion. In their suicide note, they said, “We decided to end our lives because of the physical limitations placed upon us by our age.” Oh, what a disappointment. What a tragedy. What foolish thinking!
Our age and the increasing limitations of our increasing age is not a curse–it’s a blessing! You see, through the limitations of aging, we are reminded of the words of the book of Hebrews: “Here [on this earth] we do not have a lasting city but as believers in the Lord Jesus we are seeking the city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). In that place, in that New Jerusalem described in Revelation, there will be no more aging, no more sorrow, and no more pain. In Romans, in the New Testament, St. Paul says, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Here St. Paul was talking about the glory you and I will experience when we, through Christ, are in God’s presence. What a wonderful word of encouragement. These uplifting messages were spoken by Paul in Corinth and they are spoken throughout Christian churches all over the world today.
In his commentary on the Epistle of Peter, Martin Luther writes, “When you fall asleep in Jesus (when you die) and are buried, it will only be an hour or a very little time and then your joy will begin. (Life after death) will be so great and so glorious,” he says, “that no mouth is able to express it.
“Immediately upon the death of a Christian,” Luther writes, “sorrow and suffering are changed. They are changed into joy which is not only glorious and inexpressible, but in it we will also live forever . . ..”
So, for those times when the devil tries to discourage you, in those difficult days, you need a more solid foundation than the mere smiles of others; you need to build on a greater foundation than the emotional outbursts of entertainers. You need to have the foundation of God’s gift of faith.
Now, let me tell you why I mention this. You see, in 1835, a man walked into a doctor’s office in Florence, Italy. He told the doctor, “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in many weeks. I also have absolutely no appetite whatsoever.” Then, this gentleman added he was “filled with anxiety…but he didn’t know why.”
The doctor examined this new patient but found no problems. Then, the doctor concluded his new patient simply needed cheering up. “You know,” the doctor said to the patient, “you are in luck!” “Why is that?” the patient asked. “Because the circus is in town. And, there is a clown at the circus called Grimaldi. I’ve been talking to many people and they have all told me how much the clown has made them laugh. They laugh and laugh until their sides ache.” “Go,” the doctor said to his patient, “and I know you will start feeling better.”
For a moment the patient sat and stared directly at the doctor. Then he said, “You don’t understand. I am Grimaldi–I am that clown.”
Well, this happened over a century ago and it is still happening today. Actors and actresses who always seem to be happy also are themselves often some of the most discouraged. For instance last February, Generation magazine told how actor Kirk Douglas, after a stroke, became very depressed. Their point was this: The demons of discouragement and despair strike anyone at anytime, including the rich and famous. This is why you need to recall the words of Jesus when He says in the Gospel of John, “My Words are Spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). Money will not do it; fame cannot do it; but the life-giving words of Jesus will always do it. Jesus’ words give encouragement and hope. Jesus’ words are alive. Jesus’ words drive the demons of discouragement away from you. You see, when Jesus spoke to the devil in the wilderness, Satan had no choice but to flee. And so, Jesus is saying to you today, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me, will never die” (John 11:25-26).
You see, Jesus died on the cruel bloody cross for one reason. Jesus died to pay for every one of your sins. The blood Jesus shed was a payment to the heavenly Father for all of your failures in life. God the Father has accepted His Son’s payment for all of your sins. The Bible says, “Without the shedding of the blood, there is no forgiveness.” However, since Jesus has shed His blood for you, there is now God’s totally reliable promise of forgiveness and encouragement for you no matter what you have done!
Therefore, even if you are facing some of the most difficult times in life, including death itself, in Jesus Christ you have a solid reason to have hope. You see, Jesus Christ not only died but He rose again from the dead. And when you are connected to Jesus by God’s gift of faith, you, too, will be enabled to face death with courage and conviction. Through faith in Jesus Christ, you and all his followers, can sing and say with Job, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives; on the last day, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26).
Never give up. No, my friends, never ever let the devil pull you into his pit of discouragement. Rather, every day cling with God’s gift of faith to God’s promises of encouragement. “I will sing,” the psalmist said, “of the loving kindness of the LORD forever; To all generations, I will make known Your FAITHFULNESS with my mouth” (Psalm 89:1). Sing! Yes, sing to the God of encouragement using this hymn:
The will of God is always best And shall be done forever; And they who trust in Him are blest, He will forsake them never. [God] helps indeed in time of need, He chastens with forbearing; They who depend on God, their Friend, Shall not be left despairing.
God is my comfort and my trust, My hope and life abiding; And to His counsel, wise and just, I yield in Him confiding. The very hairs His Word declares, Upon my head He numbers By night and day God is my stay, He never sleeps nor slumbers.
Lord Jesus, this I ask of Thee, Deny me not this favor: When Satan sorely troubles me, Then do not let me waver. Keep watch and ward, O gracious Lord, Fulfill Thy faithful saying, Who doth believe he shall receive An answer to his praying. (TLH 517, Stanzas 1-3)
Dear Lord, we pray, if there are those today who are discouraged, lift them up as You did the Corinthian believers 2,000 years ago. Restore all hearers of Your word today. Bring Your children, O Lord, to repentance and grant unto all hearers of Your word, Your gift of faith, in Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for July 7, 2002
ANNOUNCER: We’re talking about a cure for discouragement. I’m Mark Eischer and joining me is Dr. Wallace Schulz. Dr. Schulz, you talked about the fact that many people nowadays feel discouraged. Do you suppose that is a greater problem for people today than it was for people a hundred years ago?
SCHULZ: Well, Mark, I believe that’s a real possibility.
ANNOUNCER: Why do you say that?
SCHULZ: A century ago most people understood or saw life as a struggle. One hundred years ago, it was much harder to put food on the table, as we say. A century ago, it was much more difficult to maintain good health and if you had any medical problems, you didn’t have all the medicines and the options for surgery we have today. Today, we have so many more blessings and options than a hundred years ago.
ANNOUNCER: But why would this make people today more discouraged?
SCHULZ: I think what happens is this. I believe many people today, especially the younger generation, have been told, or at least have been given the impression, that life is supposed to be easy and fun. If this is not what you are experiencing, then there is something wrong; either with you or your environment. Now, of course, this is a contradiction to a century ago when people understood life was a struggle.
ANNOUNCER: What does the Bible have to say on the subject?
SCHULZ: Jesus is quite direct here in His statement. He says, in the Gospel of John, chapter 16, “In this world you are going to have problems and challenges.” But then He says, “Don’t be discouraged. Take heart. I have overcome the world.”
ANNOUNCER: So, does this mean if we believe in Jesus, we will no longer have any problems?
SCHULZ: No, Mark. This is not what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying that when you are connected to Jesus through God’s miraculous gift of faith, Jesus then enables you, empowers you, to overcome the challenges that come to you everyday. Many years ago, I heard a speaker in Minneapolis-St. Paul discuss the topic of challenges and how Christians cope effectively with challenges in day-to-day life. This gentleman said something I will never forget. He explained that a lot of people, especially those who claim to be Christian, feel there is some kind of a state or a certain level of spirituality that they can reach or obtain where they will have no more problems. Then, this man correctly pointed out, quite emphatically, this is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, this is heresy.
ANNOUNCER: What did he say was the answer?
SCHULZ: He said that being a Christian doesn’t remove your problems. Being a Christian enables you to overcome these problems. It’s not that a Christian doesn’t have any problems. Rather, as a Christian, one learns with the help of God, to overcome any and all obstacles that come in one’s way.
ANNOUNCER: So, Dr. Schulz, in closing today, if you were to offer our listeners one bit of advice or encouragement, what would it be?
SCHULZ: I would simply say read and memorize the 23rd Psalm. You can find it in any Bible, about the middle of the Old Testament. More people have been lifted up out of discouragement by this Psalm than perhaps any other. Let me read the Psalm for our listeners: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. O Lord, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies and Thou anointest my head with oil and my cup runneth over. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz.