Martin Luther says: "The more Christian a man is, the more evils, sufferings, and deaths he must endure, as we see in Christ the first-born prince himself, and in all his brethren, the saints. The power we speak of is spiritual. It rules in the middle of its enemies and is powerful in the midst of oppression. This means nothing other than that 'power is made perfect in weakness' (2Co 12:9) and that in all things I can find benefit toward salvation (Rm 8:28), so that the cross and death itself are compelled to serve me and to work together with me for my salvation" (The Freedom of a Christian). Only a towering faith always believes this. Only divinely-wrought faith can stare disaster in the face and acknowledge that it is intended for good. Only faith which is given by God the Holy Spirit sees suffering as profitable for salvation; that is with me and not against me.

But how could it be otherwise? Christ takes up His cross, and following none, leads a whole train of the faithful to take captivity captive through death. He refuses to revile when reviled, even though He knew that the insults of the maddened mob would lead to His death. He suffered without hurling insults at His persecutors. He gave Himself over to the power of evil and refused to resist when the wicked one with his works of evil came (Mt 5:39) to bind the strong man (Mt 12:29). He entrusted Himself to the just Judge, whose promises were sufficient for His Son (1Pt 2:23). God's Son walked to Golgotha upon the road of faith, no less than we do. Although He had the power of sight, He walked by faith, knowing this was the highest worship (Heb 12:1). He earned for us all the most profound spiritual blessings through His incomparable life and sacrificial death.

His life and death are ours by faith. All things are ours; this especially. The Apostle Paul is not thinking of just any life nor of just any death (1Co 3:22), but rather of Christ's substitutionary life and His substitutionary death. If His life and death are ours, what more could we need? The collect for this coming Sunday says, "O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity." Notice it says "defended against all adversity;" and that it does not say, "defended from all adversity." There will be adversity; but it will not overcome us, who have possession of all divine gifts. What poverty could we possibly fear? What could we lack? What worldly gain would add a single good to our lives? What suffering could separate us from Christ? What calamity would cause God's promises to us to fail? What future could portend disaster for us? No, the future is ours, because it is God's. All things are ours!

We are heirs of all things, but unlike the Menendez brothers, who were anxious for the death of their rich parents, we are willing to wait patiently until the Lord sees fit that we should see and experience the fullness of our inheritance from Christ. Until then we can wait quietly knowing that all things are ours. We are the children of a fabulously rich Father, brothers of the crown Prince. Of course, all things are ours. The ministers in the Father's household teach us of our exalted place in the kingdom. His government is arranged for our blessing. The ministers always serve to proclaim our illustrious rank in the household managed by them. All things are ours.