A Mighty Fortress (Castillo Fuerte)


One of my favorite hymns is a classic by Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. In fact, it is one of the songs I would like sung at my funeral, along with How Great Thou Art.

As a student of military history, and an avid wargamer, the image of our Lord standing strong as our defense against the attacks of the enemy resonates with me. He is our protection, He is our shield and our wall against our foe, the devil.

"A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing"

Our victory over Satan is certain, but not through anything that we can do  - the victory is 100% the Lord's, it is His triumph, on our behalf, but for His glory and by His power.

"Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing"

Our strength can do nothing against the evil one, and we are powerless in the face of his schemes and snares. Just one look around at the world today can leave us feeling helpless, lost, isolated and at the mercy of powers over which we have no control.

Fortunately, while all of that is true, it is not true of the One we serve. God is in control! And He has the power and authority to assure victory.

"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."

Listen to and feel the power and authority in that statement - "God has willed!" It's a done deal, complete and inevitable.  As Jesus said on the cross, "Tetelestai - it is finished!" God's victory, our victory, is an already accomplished fact.

As the hymn states emphatically, "His kingdom is forever." Amen!

__

Uno de mis himnos favoritos es un clásico de Martin Luther, Castillo Fuerte. De hecho, es una de las canciones que me gustaría que se cante en mi funeral, junto con Cuan Grande Es Él.

Como estudiante de historia militar y ávido participante en juegos de guerra, la imagen de nuestro Señor parado firme como nuestra defensa contra los ataques del enemigo resuena en mí. Él es nuestra protección, Él es nuestro escudo y nuestro muro contra nuestro enemigo, el diablo.

"Castillo fuerte es nuestro Dios,
Defensa y buen escudo".

Nuestra victoria sobre Satanás está asegurada, pero no a través de cualquier cosa que nosotros podamos hacer: la victoria es 100% el triunfo del Señor, en nuestro nombre, pero para Su gloria y por Su poder.

"Nuestro valor es nada aquí,
Con él todo es perdido".

Nuestra fuerza no puede hacer nada contra el maligno, y somos impotentes ante sus artimañas y asechanzas. Solo una mirada al mundo de hoy puede hacernos sentir indefensos, perdidos, aislados y a merced de poderes sobre los que no tenemos control.

Afortunadamente, si bien todo eso es cierto, no lo es para Aquel a quien servimos. ¡Dios está en control! Y Él tiene el poder y la autoridad para asegurar la victoria.

"Aunque estén demonios mil
Prontos a devorarnos,
No temeremos, porque Dios
Sabrá cómo ampararnos".

Escuche y sienta el poder y la autoridad en esa declaración: "¡Dios sabrá cómo ampararnos!". Es un trato hecho, completo e inevitable. Como dijo Jesús en la cruz, "Tetelestai - ¡Consumado es!" La victoria de Dios, nuestra victoria, es un hecho ya consumado.

Como dice enfáticamente el himno, "Más siempre ha de existir de Dios el Reino eterno". ¡Amén!

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