Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The LORD Alone is Creator

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 9:5-6.

The LORD alone is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He has the authority and power to bring about the judgment He has declared upon Israel for their idolatry and injustice. As the Source of justice and righteousness, the LORD must punish sin and evil. Those who will not receive His work in faith will find themselves under His condemnation for their sin and evil. However, those who place their trust in Christ alone as the One who took God’s wrath upon Himself will find instead that God forgives and destroys their sin and evil for them in order to give them His justification. The LORD accomplishes such work simply through His touch, which He exercised throughout the Scriptures through water and does so still for us in the water and Word of Holy Baptism. He does this work in order to be present among His people on earth in order to save them. Through sacrifice for their sins, finally fulfilled in Christ’s death on the cross, the LORD dwells among His people not for their condemnation but for their eternal salvation. All of this points us forward to the Last Day, when Christ returns to raise us from the dead, make all things new, and take all of His people to the fullness of eternal life with Him.

“The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the book of Amos. This Old Testament prophet speaks the LORD’s roaring Word in order to call us first to repentance over our idolatry and injustice and second to faith in the Messiah in the line of David, Jesus Christ. Only through faith in Him will we stand forgiven and redeemed on the coming Day of the LORD.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Amos 9:5-6

⁵The Lord God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
    and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
    and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;
⁶who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
    and founds his vault upon the earth;
who calls for the waters of the sea
    and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).