Fighting For Souls
Many have seen the 2016 historical movie, Hacksaw Ridge. It tells the story of Private Desmond Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist pacifist, who found a way to answer the call to serve in WWII without ever carrying a gun. Believing in the sanctity of human life, and committed to the victory of the allied forces, Desmond enlisted to play his part in the war against the evil Axis powers as a battlefield medic.
He suffered much abuse for his stand of faith, but he stuck to his guns (excuse the pun). He went to the front lines without a gun, and entered into one of the worst fights the Allied Army faced in the Battle of Okinawa. The Allied Army had to withdraw in the first engagement, having faced a strong enemy, and suffered multiple casualties.
As night fell and darkness covered the area, Private Doss stayed on the battlefield while Japanese soldiers roamed through the carnage, shooting wounded survivors. Doss crawled around looking for these survivors and one by one dragged them off that mountain, and let them down the side of the cliff, ultimately saving 75 soldiers who would have otherwise died horrible deaths!
As he crawled around he prayed, Lord, give me one more, just one more. And if that wasn’t enough, Doss suffered a left arm fracture from a sniper's bullet while being carried back to Allied lines, and at one point had seventeen pieces of shrapnel embedded in his body after attempting to kick a grenade away from himself and his comrades.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Okinawa.
*Actual photo of Doss receiving his medal of honor from President Harry Truman, October 12, 1945.
Private Doss believed in the sanctity of human life, and the value of every soul. When we step into the fight of faith, God fights on our behalf and gives us victory and fruitfulness.
“Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4, BSB).
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).
"This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God" (Chronicles 20:15, BSB).
A Door in the Graveyard
In 1943, Etta Shuber wrote the book PARIS UNDERGROUND, in which she talks about being trapped inside Paris when Hitler's storm troopers entered in the Spring of 1940. The Germans quickly shut down the country, guarded the borders, and refused to let anyone leave.
However, a small border town saw its population diminishing rapidly.
The Nazis found that the town cemetery straddled the border, and that the locals had opened up an ancient gate in the rear of the graveyard wall. Every time mourners entered the cemetery for a funeral, they kept right on walking out the back gate, emerging into the land of freedom and life.
When Jesus died on the cross, He bore the burden and paid the cost of our sins. When He rose from the grave, He blew out a door in the back of the cemetery.
As believers, though we may be sojourners here in the land of the dead; we don't linger. We keep right on walking through that valley of the shadow of death until we emerge into the land of the eternally living and forever free.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24, ESV).
"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life" (1 John 2:25, ESV).
Rumors of Misused Funds for Ukraine
There are rumors that are Ukrainian funds that were sent by America have been misused and given to enemy soldiers. Celeste Wallander who is the assistant secretary of defense for International security affairs said, "The US government has not seen credible evidence of any diversion of US-provided weapons outside of Ukraine."
Though not yet credible, there is still doubt and fear that we are supplying the enemy.
We need not fear anything that we do in faith and wisdom for God and His kingdom will be used or appropriated by the enemy. Any word that we spread for Christ, any funds we commit to God's service, anything that we do for His glory will always be recognized by God. Though Satan might try to commandeer our efforts, to God alone belongs the victory!
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20, NIV).
"For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it" (Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV).