LifeDate Summer 2026 – God Said … And It Was So
by Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske
We learn from the very first lines of Scripture that our God is a God who speaks. In His omnipotence, there are a million ways that God could have created the heavens and the earth. And yet, He chose words as the means to bring the universe into existence. Likewise, God could have chosen any number of ways to reveal Himself to fallen humanity, but He chooses words to make Himself known to us and create faith in our hearts.
As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews put it, in the days of the Old Testament, “God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,” but, now in these days of the New Testament, “He has spoken to us by his Son” (1:1-2) and through the apostles whom Jesus has sent out into the world to proclaim the Good News.
Everything that we need to know about God, ourselves, and our salvation, God reveals to us through His Word. In fact, Martin Luther would go so far as to say that “God will not deal with us except through His external Word and sacrament” (SA Part III, Art. VIII, 10).
It should come as no surprise, then, when the devil and his followers attack God’s Word. As long as God sends forth His Word, the devil will continue to sow fear and doubt with his “did God actually say?” (Genesis 3:1). Sadly, our old ancient foe can keep using this same tactic over and over again because we keep falling for it over and over again!
Every argument we hear in favor of abortion, or sexual immorality (pre-marital sex, same-sex marriage, pornography, etc.), or physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are really just attacks on God’s Word—attacks influenced by the father of lies (John 8:44). The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh continually try to convince us that God’s Word is either wrong or that it doesn’t apply to us and our circumstances.
In the face of such attacks, the cross of Jesus Christ, along with His empty tomb, stand as signs of God’s unending faithfulness, reminding us that God’s Word is both unfailing and unchanging. God’s desire for each one of us is so strong that not even the death of His Son would deter Him from keeping His promises to us.
Friends of life, hold fast to the Word that God speaks to us! His Words truly are the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68), by which God instructs us about the love He has for each person, strengthens us to withstand the attacks of the evil one, and turns the hearts of our enemies.
I pray you enjoy this journal dedicated to God’s Word of life!