I remember being awestruck as I stood atop the great ziggurat outside Talil, Iraq. Our tour guide told us that this structure had been built about 3000 years before the birth of Christ, or about 5000 years before the day we were standing there. The ziggurat was one of the few things left standing; almost everything else was in ruins. A major shift in the path of a river had “killed” the city centuries before. Nevertheless, this ziggurat still stood, even though everyone had left. 

This ziggurat was the center of a pagan lifestyle and system of worship but reminded me of my Christian Bible, notably 1 Peter 1:25—“…the word of the Lord remains forever.”

The Word of the Lord does not remain because it is popular; it seems as though major shifts in opinion and priorities is about to “kill” the Church. Nevertheless, the Word of the Lord remains because God’s power upholds it no matter what.

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum is the Latin battle cry of the Reformation: “The Word of the Lord remains forever.” Once again this year we will celebrate our faith heritage by observing Reformation Day on October 28. It’s a great day to remind ourselves of where we stand. We stand alone on the Word of God, even though the river of society is moving away from it and it appears that we are living in a wasteland, we still stand on the Word of God and will continue to stand here until Christ returns.

On October 28, two young men will confirm their Christian faith, planting their feet firmly on this eternal Word of God. For those who join us for this rite in at 10:30, you will have a chance to reaffirm your own Confirmation promises “to remain faithful to the church and suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it.” On that day, these men and you and I will have the chance to say with confidence, “The Word of God remains forever” and that is where I shall stand, too.

Grant this Lord for Jesus’ sake!

Pastor Tom Vanderbilt