Now!
Dan Kunz
The well-known hymn, Now Thank We All Our God, was written by a man named Martin Rinkart, who lived in Germany between 1586-1649. If you are a student of world history, you may know that the Thirty Years’ War was fought in central Europe from 1618-1648. That war, even by today’s standards, was one of the most brutal and devastating in human history. According to The History Channel, it is believed that as many as eight million people died through fighting or the famine and pestilence it helped bring about. Eight million people! When you consider the relatively primitive weapons available then, even a portion of that number killed in battle would be a high number. The fact that at least part of the war was between Catholic and Protestant states which were part of the Holy Roman Empire, makes it even more tragic, if that’s possible!
Rinkart, who was a pastor, deacon, and school headmaster, certainly witnessed more than a little misery and suffering during this war. At one point, it is said he performed forty to fifty burial services a day, because of the famine and pestilence! Some say he officiated at over four thousand burial services altogether. His own wife died in 1637, during the worst of the turmoil. This is the man who wrote, “Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”
As I look at the words of the hymn, one word in particular stands out. It is the word, “now”. The third verse reads, “All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven the one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.” It seems absolutely amazing that Rinkart could be emphasizing to everyone that now is the time to be thankful. He didn’t say be thankful now for what you had yesterday or be thankful now for what you may have tomorrow, he said be thankful now – period. Even in the midst of unbelievable tragedy and suffering, he urged people to be thankful, as he was, for what they have now. Perhaps that’s the key to our thankfulness at this time of the year. We can, no doubt, find blessings with which God showered us in the past. We can also look forward to future blessings, whether they be in this life or the life to come. Through the eyes of faith, however, we can certainly find something for which to be thankful now. Although we may face personal tribulations, God is with us. Although our world seems to be turning its back on God, millions remain faithful. God knows who we are and he knows where we live!
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today.” You may have had better times. You will experience better times. Now, however, is the time God has given you to believe in him and to share that faith with others. Let’s thank him for that! Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hand.