As Pure As Transparent Glass

Eating outside on the cobbled streets in Europe was fun! There was always lots of activity going on entertain us.

 

 

In Innsbruck there were two people posing as statues on the streets. At first I thought they were statues! until I saw the tin cans in front of them for people to put money i 

 



 

 

We also heard talented musicians play on the streets too.

 

 

The European streets made out of cobblestones were beautiful! But one day we will live in Heaven where the streets in the city are made out of gold as pure as transparent glass. Can you imagine how beautiful those streets will be?

 

"The great street of the city

was of gold,

as pure as transparent glass."

Revelations 21:21b 



Praise Him In The Heights Above

From the city of Innsbruck, Brian, Daniel and I hiked up part of the Nordkette mountain, instead of taking the train, and then hopped on the Nordketterbahn Cable Cars to take us almost to the top.

 

 

At the highest station pictured above, we were 2256 meters above sea level.

 

 

 

Once we reached the top, the scenery of the capital of Tyrol and the surrounding mountain peaks was spectacular!

 

 

 

"Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise Him in the heights above.

Praise Him, all His angels;

praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

Paris Him, sun and moon;

praise Him, all you shining stars.

Praise Him you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for at His command they were created,

and He established them for ever and ever.

He issued a decree that will never pass away."

Psalm 148:1-6 (NIV)



We Do It For An Eternal Prize

One day during our two-week stay in Germany, Brian, I, and our son Daniel drove to Innsbruck, Austria.

 

 

 

Innsbruck is the capital city of Tyrol in western Austria.

 

 

 

It is located in a broad valley between the high mountains of Karwendel Alps at the junction of the Wipptal or Sill River.



Innsbruck is world famous for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. It also hosted the Winter Paralympics in 1984 and 1988, and the Winter Youth Olympics in 2012.



 

 

Olympic athletes are extremely disciplined in their training so they can one day win a gold, silver or bronze medal. It is glorious time in an Olympian's life when he/she finally receives a medal for all of his/her hard work. However, no matter how glorious that may be, that glory will one day fade away. While on the other hand, Christians who run the race and win will receive a glorious prize that will last forever.

 

"All athletes are disciplined

in their training.

They do it to win a prize

that will fade away,

but we do it

for an eternal prize."

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

Put Your Sword Back Into Its Place

The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge is in the town of Reutte in Tyrol, Austria. It is 403 metres long with a maximum height of 110 metres.

 

 

 

This bridge connects the castle ruins of Ehrenberg with Fort Claudia

.

 

The Ehrenberg Castle was built in the 13th century and had a peaceful existence for a long time, until the religious wars started, following the onset of the Protestant Reformation in Western and Northern Europe. Then it became the center of war activities. The castle was eventually destroyed and left in ruins.

 



 

Violence is never the answer for spreading the truths of the Bible. It does no good except bring their own punishment.

 

"'Put your sword back in its place,'"

Jesus said to him,

"'for all who draw the sword

will die by the sword.'"

Matthew 26:52 (NIV)

 





Like A Scarecrow In A Cucumber Field



"Do not make idols

or set up carved images,

or sacred pillars,

or sculptured stones

in your land

so you may worship them.

I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 26:1 (NLT)

 

The Wieskirche Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour is located in the foothills of the magnificent Alps.

 

 

Not yet knowing the history of this church, I was stupefied when I opened the doors and went inside. It was a magnificent church with amazing artistic richness! I wondered how such a glorious building came into being in such a secluded place?

 

 

Apparently in 1730, a wooden stature of the Scourged Saviour was erected on the land for a pilgrimage. Afterwards, it was put into storage in an attic and soon forgotten about until 1738 when a peasant woman retrieved the statue and believed she saw tears on it.

 



The news of this supposed miracle spread quickly, and as a result, many people came from near and far to see this statue of Jesus. As more and more pilgrims came, a small wooden chapel was built in 1740 to house the statue.

 





 

Many people even claimed they were healed of their diseases just from being near the statue at the altar. When I heard this, my spirit was greatly grieved to hear people believing in untruths which contradict God's Word.

 

Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, an idol cannot speak or walk. They must be carried.  They cannot harm, nor can they do any good.

 

"Like a scarecrow

in a cucumber field,

their idols cannot speak;

they must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them;

they can do no harm

nor can they do any good."

Jeremiah 10:5 (NIV)

 



In 1745 a new larger more elaborate church was built and completed in 1754. This is the astounding church which remains today.

He Who Separates Himself

The Linderhof Palace was also built by Ludwig II of Bavaria as his hunting lodge.

 

 

It is the smallest of his three palaces, but it was by far the most extravagant and rich inside.

 

 

My favourite room was the Hall of Mirrors. The mirrors in this room reflected the light of the candles a thousand times and the parallel placement of some of the mirrors gave the illusion the room was infinite. Apparently, the King would sleep during the day and stay awake at night reading in this room.

 

 

In the bedchamber, Ludwig's bed was as gigantic as his ego. It was situated on a large platform giving it the appearance of an altar.



 

 

The dining room was used by the King alone because he never entertained. He even had a table installed which could be lowered and raised from the kitchen below, so he wouldn't have to see or talk to any of his staff members. However the staff had to set the table for four because he liked talk to imaginary people.

 

Ludwig II lived in the Linderhof Palace for seven years before he died. So much of his time was wasted on himself. During his life he accomplished nothing of value to benefit mankind.

The Bible says when a person separates himself/herself from all others, he/she seeks his/her own desires. He/she then quarrels against all sound wisdom.

"He who separates himself

seeks his own desire.

He quarrels against

all sound wisdom."

Proverbs 18:1 (NIV)

 

Be Rich Toward God

This is the Neuschwanstein Castle that the reclusive Ludwig II of Bavaria built for himself.

 

 

It is located in the Alps in a majestic landscape on top of a hill overlooking the Hohenshwanhau valley.

 

 

 

The castle is only a stone throw away from his parent's Hohenshwangau castle. Ludwig was so obsessed with the construction of this castle, he even set up a telescope in the Hohenshwangau castle, so he could watch it being built from there.

 

 

Apparently, when Ludwig was just a boy, he had already picked out the location for this castle and spent many hours daydreaming what it would look like.

 

 

 Unfortunately, at the time of Ludwig's death, his elaborate castle was far from completed.

 

 

Ludwig was only able to spend eleven nights in his fairy tale-like castle.

 

 

However, due to the secluded location of both the Neuschwanstein and Hohenshwangau Castles, neither one was touched by the destruction of war.

 

 

The Neuschwanstein castle is so magnificent, it has appeared in several prominent movies and was the inspiration for Walt Disney's Romantic Kingdom.

 

Sadly, Ludwig II was a fool. He stored up things for himself and was not rich toward God. When his life was demanded from God, he had nothing.

 

"But God said to him,

'You fool!

This very night

your life will be demanded from you.

Then who will get

what you have prepared for yourself?"

This is how it will be

with whoever stores up things for themselves

but is not rich toward God."

Luke 12:20-21 (NIV)