Monthly Column

Dear Members and Friends of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

As many of you have been traveling these past few weeks, and have shared your adventures with me, I have been reminded of one of the basics of vacations: “Getting there” is half the fun. Or in other words, “getting there” can be quite the challenge! Sure, the destinations, once we finally arrive usually meet expectations, sometimes even exceeding them. But the actual travel can be overwhelming!

Sure, it would be great not to have to travel: To wait in lines at an airport, or secure a rental car, or be stuck in a car for hours on end with a bunch of people who we thought we knew, but it turns out, we really did not! And what about flat tires? Musty hotels? Meals that seem somehow off?

Better would be to find ourselves instantly at the place we wanted to visit! California? Boom! We are there! France? Snap! There is the Eiffel tower! Duluth? Ping! Lake Superior!

If only that could happen! If only we did not have to travel in order to go somewhere desirable!

Sometimes it seems that it just the way we think about attending church. About personal devotion. Even about prayer. If only we could just be perfect! Live a holy life! Even visit heaven! Why all the
struggle with sin? Why all the guilt and regret? Why the physical challenge of picking up a Bible and reading it, folding our hands in prayer, or getting in our cars and driving to church, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday!

It all seems too difficult! Especially during Lent!

Well let’s be honest: The Christian life can be a challenge. Even difficult. Why? We find ourselves not infrequently having to swim against the currents of the world, the wiles of the devil, and the fickleness our own Old Adam! And in order to swim strongly and confidently, we need constantly to remain in the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper. That is, we need physically to do something which may not be of the greatest comfort to us!

But of course there is heaven. Eternal life. Joy and happiness and peace without end in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Certainly an eternity that will exceed all expectations should give us hope as we “travel” through this world.

After all, our Savior has gone before us hasn’t He? Did He not live among us, “travel” with us, and as He did so, look forward to His return to heaven? Here is what we read in Hebrews 12 (1-3):

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Hebrews 12: 1-3

As we “travel” through the remainder of Lent towards the annual celebration of the resurrection of the dead through Jesus Christ our Lord let us not “grow weary or fainthearted”, but like our Savior Himself, “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Or in other words, continue with confidence and joy as we travel towards our heavenly home.

Your Servant in Christ,
Pastor Strawn