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| Martin Luther 1533 |
We have a wonderful topic to discuss today. We have titled it, Conversion of Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer And Beginning of Protestant Reformation
THERE CAME a day when in the quiet seclusion of an ancient German library a godly young man, soon to become a monk, discovered a Latin Bible. Reverently he laid his hands upon it. Fearfully he opened its pages. Never before had he seen such a volume. He had not known such a book existed. He had heard small portions of Scripture read at public worship, and supposed that this was all. Now for the first time, he looked upon the whole of God’s Word. With quickened pulse he turned the sacred pages, exclaiming, “Oh, that God would give me such a book for myself!”
That prayer began to be answered when he found a Bible chained to the monastery wall.
Those medieval centuries that we call the Dark Ages were dark, filled with superstition and ignorance, largely because this book was suppressed. The Dark Ages were dark because the light of God’s Word was chained to monastery walls, or hidden as choice, rare treasure in the palaces of the wealthy and the courts of kings. The reading of the Bible, for the common people, was looked upon with suspicion and distrust. No wonder that during this time, without the safeguard of the Scriptures, there crept into the church, doctrines, rites, ceremonies, and forms of worship about which Paul or Peter never heard.
Imagine if you can the surging emotions within the breast of young Martin Luther as again and again, he repaired to the Book on the monastery wall. In that historic search, to his profound surprise, he saw nothing of relics, images, worship of the saints. But he did see much of Jesus, His righteousness, His character, His love, and power. He saw little emphasis on rites and forms and ceremonies, but an amazing revelation of how God looks upon the inner life. It was there that the young monk prayerfully gathered his message and vigorously turned to the world with some breathtaking questions that were to rock the thinking of that day to its foundations.
Protestantism was taking root. It urged the open return to the Word of God. It meant a clean break with the traditions of the past. It marked the beginning of a new epoch in our civilization. For with the searching, inquisitive spirit of the Reformation the old world died, the modem world began.
What brought about the Reformation? Thoughtful men will agree that it was the Word of God that did it, as it unshackled the minds of men to discover in its pages the long-hidden light of gospel liberty. And it was none too soon. For the hands of God’s clock were fast approaching the final hours of history when the divine revelation of it-would he desperately needed. And God saw fit to use a fearless young monk who gathered his message and his courage from a Bible chained to a wall. Thank God for Martin Luther!
by George Vandeman, Planet in Rebellion.
Related:
Revelation Chapter 3 Commentary: Letter To The Churches Pt 2
Fallout Over Calvary: Jesus Death on Calvary – George Vandeman.
I have been blessed by today’s message, Conversion of Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer And Beginning of Protestant Reformation, and you too have blessed.
