Today’s excursion reminds me that I am ever grateful of my understanding of salvation by faith, and the everlasting love of God for me.

More on that later.

Today’s blog post comes from atop Württemberg hill, on the stairs of a mausoleum (“Grabkapelle” – grave chapel) beneath the inscription, Die Liebe höret nimmer auf – Love never dies.

Side note: Super stoked to have data on my phone, thanks to a SIM card purchase at – where else – Aldi. 🙂

Queen Katharina, King Wilhelm I’s Russian wife, died suddenly at the age of 30. Moved by devotion and the professed undying love, the King commissioned the construction of a chapel (1820-1824) on this prominent hill for her final resting place, where he would later join her.

A lovely story. True love. A beautiful building, a breathtaking panoramic view. But here’s where the story makes me sad:

(From the informative pamphlet)

Just a stone’s throw away [from the chapel] is a residential house that was…home to a chaplain and two choristers who were employed to regularly pray and sing for Katharina’s salvation.

King Wilhelm’s act of devotion appears to have been too late. Katharina was sleeping. Her soul was not waiting about for direction to another resting place. Her salvation was determined before she breathed her last.

This point was reinforced by the solemn gazes of “the evangelists” encircling the chapel: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. I was struck by the thought of the belief that one must plead with these cold, unseeing statues for salvation. That what we do determines what we get.

I bask in the sunshine on this lovely fall afternoon in Deutschland, looking out over the weinbergs and red-tiled roofs, immensely grateful that no matter what I do, I can receive that salvation which I could never earn. It is not based on my merits or the works of others. It is based solely on the acts of Jesus and His perfect life.

Now THAT is good news.

I think I see grins hinting on those evangelists’ faces.