October 10, 2023 | Martin Luther – Day 38

 

“After all, Christ must be everything: the beginning, the middle, and the end of our salvation. We must lay Him down as the first or foundation stone, rest the others and intermediate ones on Him, and also attach the rafters or the roof to Him. He is the first, the middle, and the last rung in the ladder to heaven. Through Him we must begin, must continue, and must complete our progress to life.”

Martin Luther

 

 

“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring (Genesis 28:10-13).

 

At the time, Jacob didn’t understand the structure of the ladder the angels were ascended and descended on. He didn’t fully appreciate the foundation of such  marvelous steps. But he, as well as all mankind, would come to know that the ladder is Christ. Only by faith in Christ may we be assured of our ascension. Only He was able to provide for us the way.

 

So many people try to factor other things into their salvation by defining the way to heaven on their own terms. “If I’m a good enough person, if I go to church every Sunday, if I give enough to charity.” But that is not how the ladder works. Only by faith in Christ can we ever hope to see heaven. It’s not based on anything we can do, it’s based on what has already been done. “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

 

To ascend the stairs, Christ must become your everything, every stone, every rafter, every step. Today, surrender that thing you’ve been cherishing that has prevented you from surrendering your all to Jesus.

 

Our prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to be our foundation. Help us in our unbelief and show us the way to the ladder that will lead us to glory. Amen.