Of all things that look to stand the test of time, Mt. Rushmore must be high on the list. But take a closer look and you'll find cracks running through the granite faces of the monument. The main culprit is the common element of water; water that gets in the cracks, then freezes and thaws, pushing the rock with a force of 2,000 lbs. per square inch. While Mt. Rushmore isn't in immediate danger, experts say that without a facelift, it will one day crumble. Which brings to mind the word . . . temporary.

Life in this world is temporary; things that look permanent are not. It's like living in a tent, comfortable for the moment, but then life's rain, wind, and sun happen and the things of life can change in a moment. And so in this reality of temporary we hear the echo of sin's curse spoken by God long ago to Adam, Dust you are, and to dust you will return.

Psalm 91 begins, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I will trust. But then only a verse later it speaks of the terror by night and arrow that flies by day. That is our situation. We are weak and vulnerable; made so by our own sin. An Old Testament commentator pictured this as a soldier who abandoned his post and stumbled into enemy territory and now he's all alone. Or think of Adam and Eve the day after they had to leave the garden. For the time being, we are like that soldier. We've been given orders, Fight the good fight . . . Say no to temptation . . . Love the Lord your God . . . Love your neighbor as yourself. But how can we do that when we've gone AWOL; closed our eyes to the needs of others, wandered away from the good post God has assigned to us? This is what Paul means in Romans 7, Oh what a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Answer? Thanks be to God! If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. And therefore, I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God I will trust. This is the message and reminder of Lent: That God in Christ kept every promise for His names' sake.

That for us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. And He was baptized in our place and then into the wilderness where he was tempted for us. Christ fulfilled the law and ran the race perfectly on our behalf; even going through the valley of the shadow of death on the enemies' home turf (the hour of His glory) when He was crucified, suffered and died in our place. Then three days later He rose from the dead in victory that He might give to us His own righteousness. And so now even in this temporary world we are being transformed by His glory, daily renewed and strengthened with hope in Jesus, for His faithfulness is our shield and rampart!

Life in this world is temporary. But this world will never have the last word. Thanks be to God. He gets the last word. Therefore, I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I will trust.

Pastor Kelly Mitteis