Throughout the centuries of papal darkness and oppression, God cared for his work and his children. Amid opposition, conflict, and persecution, an all-wise providence was still at work to expand Jesus' kingdom. Satan exercised his power to hinder God's work and destroy his co-workers; but as soon as one of his people was imprisoned or slain, another took his place. Despite opposition from the forces of evil, God's angels did their work, and heavenly messengers sought out men who steadfastly shed light in the midst of darkness. Notwithstanding the widespread apostasy, there were sincere souls who heeded all the light that shone upon them. In their ignorance of God's Word, they had embraced human teachings and traditions. But when the Word was made available to them, they sincerely studied its pages. With humility of heart they wept and prayed that God would show them His will. With great joy they accepted the light of truth and enthusiastically tried to pass the light on to their fellow human beings.

Through the work of Wycliffe, Hus, and kindred spirit reformers, thousands of noble witnesses had borne witness to the truth. But at the beginning of the 16th century the darkness of ignorance and superstition still lay like a shroud over church and world. Religion had been degraded to a process of rites. Many of these came from paganism. But all were invented by Satan to distract men's minds from God and the truth. Worship of images and relics was still maintained. The biblical rite of the Lord's Supper was replaced by the idolatrous sacrifice of the Mass. Popes and priests claimed the power to forgive sins and to open and close the gates of heaven to all mankind. Senseless superstition and strict demands had supplanted true worship. The lives of popes and clerics were so corrupt, their proud pretensions so blasphemous, that good people feared for the morals of the young generation. With wickedness having taken hold at the highest levels of the Church, it seemed inevitable that the world would soon be as wicked as the people before the Flood or the inhabitants of Sodom.

The gospel was withheld from the people. It was considered a crime to possess or read the Bible. Even at higher levels, it was difficult to glimpse the pages of God's Word. Satan knew very well that if people were allowed to read and interpret the Bible for themselves, his deceptions would be quickly exposed. So he went to great lengths to keep people away from the Bible and to keep their minds from being enlightened by the teachings of the gospel. But a day of religious knowledge and freedom was soon to dawn upon the world. All the efforts of Satan and his hosts could not prevent this daybreak.

Luther's Childhood and Youth

Among those called to lead the Church out of the darkness of the papal system into the light of a purer faith, Martin Luther stood first. Although, like others of his day, he did not see every point of faith as clearly as we do today, he still had a sincere desire to do God's will. He joyfully accepted the truth that opened up to his mind. Full of zeal, fire, and devotion, Luther knew no fear but the fear of God alone. He accepted Holy Scripture as the sole basis for religion and belief. He was the man for his time. Through him, God did a great work for the deliverance of the church and the enlightenment of the world.

parents house

Like the first messengers of the Good News, Luther also came from a poor background. His father earned the money for his education through daily work as a miner. He had planned a career as a lawyer for his son. But God wanted him to be the builder in the great temple that had been growing for centuries.

Luther's father was a man of strong and active spirit. He had high morals, was honest, determined, straightforward, and extremely trustworthy. If he considered something as his task, he was not afraid of the consequences. Nothing could dissuade him. Thanks to his good knowledge of human nature, he viewed monastic life with distrust. He was extremely upset when Luther later entered a monastery without his consent. Two years later he was reconciled with his son. However, nothing changed in his opinion.

Luther's parents were very conscientious, serious and committed to the upbringing and education of their children. They sought to teach them all about God and practical, Christian virtues. With their assertiveness and their strength of character, they were sometimes too strict; they ruled law and order. The mother in particular showed too little love when raising her sensitive son. While she faithfully instructed him in Christian duties as she understood them, the seriousness and sometimes the harshness of her upbringing gave him a false picture of the life of faith. It was the influence of these early impressions that, years later, made him choose the life of a monk. For he felt that this was a life of self-denial, humiliation and purity, and therefore pleasing to God.

From his earliest years, Luther's life was marked by privation, toil and severe discipline. The effect of this upbringing was evident in his religiosity throughout his life. While Luther himself was aware that his parents had made mistakes in some respects, he found their upbringing more good than bad.

The most common mistake in education today is indulgence towards children. Young people are weak and inefficient, with little physical stamina and moral strength, because their parents do not train them from childhood to be conscientious and industrious out of habit. The foundation of character is laid at home: no subsequent influence from any source can fully offset the consequences of parental upbringing. When firmness and determination are combined with love and kindness in raising children, we would see young people growing up making names for themselves, like Luther, blessing the world.

School and University

At school, which he had to attend from an early age, Luther was treated more harshly than at home – even violently. The poverty of his parents was so great that on the way home from the neighboring town where the school was located, he sometimes even had to sing at the front door to earn his food. The stomach often remained empty. The dark, superstitious traits of the faith of the time frightened him. At night he went to bed with a heavy heart. The dark future made him tremble. He lived in constant fear of a God he envisioned as a harsh, implacable judge, a cruel tyrant, rather than a kind heavenly Father. Most young people today would have given up under so many and great discouragements; but Luther fought resolutely toward the high moral goal and intellectual achievement he was determined to attain.

He was very curious. His serious and practical spirit craved the solid and useful more than the spectacular and superficial. When he entered the University of Erfurt at eighteen, his situation was better and his prospects better than in his earlier years. His parents had acquired so many skills through frugality and work that they could help him where it was needed. The influence of level-headed friends had somewhat lessened the gloomy impact of his previous training. Now he devoted himself to the study of the best authors, diligently collecting their most significant thoughts, and assimilating the wisdom of the wise. An excellent memory, a lively imagination, great perspicacity and enthusiastic study zeal soon catapulted him among the best of his year.

his secret

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9,10:XNUMX) This fear filled Luther's heart. This allowed him to remain single-minded and devote himself more and more to God. He was constantly aware that he depended on divine help. That's why he never started a day without prayer. Yet he also prayed silently throughout the day for guidance and support. "Diligent prayer," he often said, "is more than halfway through."

Luther's way to Rome

One day, while examining the books in the university library, Luther discovered a Latin Bible. He must have heard parts of the gospels and the letters, because they were read from them in public services. But he thought that was the whole Bible. Now, for the first time, he had the entire Word of God in his hands. He leafed through the sacred pages with a mixture of awe and wonder. His pulse quickened, his heart pounded, as he read the Words of Life himself for the first time. He kept exclaiming, "If only God would give me a book like this! I would consider myself fortunate to be able to possess such a book.' Heavenly angels were by his side, and rays of light from God's throne illuminated the sacred pages and unlocked the treasures of truth to his understanding. He had always lived in fear of sinning against God. But now, like never before, he realized what a sinner he was.

Entrance to the monastery

The earnest desire to be free from sin and to find peace with God eventually led him to the monastery, where he devoted himself to the monastic life. Here he had to do the menial jobs as a bouncer and cleaner and go from house to house as a beggar. He was at an age when one craves respect and recognition. He therefore found this work extremely shameful. But he endured this humiliation patiently, believing that it was necessary because of his sins. This upbringing prepared him to be a mighty worker in God's building.

Asceticism as a means of sanctification?

He devoted every moment he could spare from his daily duties to his studies. He hardly allowed himself any sleep or time to eat his meager meals. Most of all, he enjoyed studying God's Word. He had found a Bible chained to the monastery wall. He often withdrew there. As he became more aware of his sin through Bible study, he sought grace and peace through his own works. Through an extremely rigorous life of fasting, vigils, and flagellations, he sought to crucify his wicked flesh. He spared no sacrifice to become holy and attain heaven. The result of this self-imposed painful discipline was an emaciated body and fainting spells. He never fully recovered from the aftermath. But all efforts brought no relief to his tormented soul. Eventually it drove him to the brink of despair.

A new perspective

When all seemed lost to Luther, God raised up a friend and helper for him. The devout Staupitz helped Luther understand God's Word and asked him to look away from himself, from the eternal punishment of his transgression of God's law, to looking to Jesus, his sin-forgiving Savior. »Do not torment yourself any longer with your catalog of sins, but throw yourself into the arms of the Redeemer! Trust him, his righteous life, the atonement through his death! … Listen to the Son of God! He became man to assure you of God's goodwill. Love the one who first loved you!” Thus spoke the Messenger of Mercy. Luther was deeply impressed by his words. After many struggles with long-held errors, he was now able to grasp the truth. Then peace came into his troubled heart.

Then and now

If only one saw such deep self-loathing today as Martin Luther did—such a great humiliation before God and such earnest faith when knowledge is given! True acknowledgment of sin is rare today; superficial conversions are seen in abundance. The life of faith is atrophied and spiritless. Why? Because parents educate their children wrongly and unwholesomely, and the clergy educate their congregations as well. Everything is done to gratify youth's love of pleasure, and nothing prevents them from pursuing a sinful course. As a result, they lose sight of their family responsibilities and learn to trample on their parents' authority. No wonder they are also willing to disregard God's authority. Even the churches are not warned when they connect with the world and its sins and joys. They lose sight of their responsibility to God and His plan for them. Nevertheless, they are assured of God's mercy. Let them forget about divine justice. They could be saved through Jesus' sacrifice without obeying God's law. They are not really aware of their sins. Therefore, they cannot experience true conversion.

The way to life

Luther searched the Bible with unflagging interest and zeal. Finally he found in it the path of life clearly revealed. He learned that people should not expect pardon and justification from the pope, but from Jesus. "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we shall be saved!" (Acts 4,12:10,9) Jesus is the only atonement for sin; he is the complete and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He obtains pardon for all who believe in him as God's ordained. Jesus himself declares: “I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved.” (John XNUMX:XNUMX) Luther sees that Jesus Christ came into the world not to save his people in their sins but from their sins. The only way the sinner can be saved when he has broken his law is to repent to God. By trusting that the Lord Jesus Christ will forgive him his sins and give him the grace to lead a life of obedience.

Through hell to heaven?

The deceptive papal teaching had led him to believe that salvation can be found through punishment and penance, and that people go to heaven through hell. Now he learned from the precious Bible: Those who are not washed clean from sins by Jesus' atoning blood will not be cleansed in hell fire either. The doctrine of purgatory is just a ruse invented by the father of lies. The present life is the only period of probation in which man can prepare himself for pure and holy society.

Signs of the Times, 31. May 1883