My parents were children in Britain during World War II and growing up we heard many of their stories about bombing, rationing and their Mickey Mouse gas masks. Mustard gas was an awful weapon used with lethal results by the Germans in the first world war. Many were blinded and the British took seriously the threat of Germany invading Britain during the second world war, bringing with them, the nightmarish gas. Thankfully, the Germans lost the Battle of Britain in the air and they failed to invade Britain, but we were ready. The Mickey Mouse gas masks were designed for the children. They were made to look fun so that the kids would be prepared to put them on. They had practices so that the school children were ready if gas became a threat. My mother’s family lived near London and the bombing during the Blitz forced them to initially hide in their cupboard, under the stairs and later to go in the air raid shelter that they had built in their garden. Living like this became a routine. It was a way of life.

I know that men and women who have fought in battle understand the necessity of being prepared, knowing exactly what to do when attacked. As a Christian I believe that we need to be aware that there is a fierce battle going on right now, in our midst. If you are not a Christian you may not be aware of this. Jesus came to earth two thousand years ago to rescue us from the power of darkness. In Colossians 1: 13 Paul writes that God “has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness”. Unless we reach out to Jesus and receive His salvation we are in darkness, under the power of the evil one, the devil. Paul continues that God “transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus), who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

How did Jesus purchase our freedom? He died for us, He bled for us. He bought us with His blood. Imagine a Jew in Germany trying to escape. He might purchase his freedom by bribing a guard or paying for a ticket to get on a ship to leave the darkness that was engulfing him in Germany. Jesus purchased our freedom. We belong to Satan’s kingdom of darkness but we cannot enter God’s kingdom of light unless Jesus pays the ransom. We actually deserve to die. Paul writes “You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body, As a result, He has bought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.” (Colossians 1:21,22)

We need to realize that, unless we come before Jesus thankfully and humbly to receive the forgiveness that He secured for us by bleeding to death on the wooden cross, we will remain in the darkness. The devil wants to keep us there. It would be like sunbathing when the German bomber planes were attacking your neighborhood, but worse. If you are not a Christian please read the Bible, talk to a Christian who takes his faith seriously and wake up to the spiritual battle that is raging. Jesus has already defeated the devil but unless you have put yourself on Jesus’ side, becoming part of His Kingdom, you are in danger. If you are a Christian, are you pointing your friends to Jesus the Savior? Are you helping them understand the nature of the battle and are you seeking the protection that we need from Jesus as we deal with the backlash from Satan that we will receive?

As we remember those who died for their country let’s also remember Jesus who died for our eternal freedom. Unlike all the other war heroes who died, Jesus rose from the dead and He continues to battle on our behalf. He protects us and rescues those who believe from the Kingdom of darkness.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Veterans Day: A Christian Response

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Karl Marx, German political economist, 1861

We studied various political thinkers including Marx and we read George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty Four”, wondering whether the Iron Curtain would become an even harsher barrier separating east from west. Europe seemed much smaller then, as most people living in the Eastern Bloc were virtual prisoners and could not join us to present their perspective. Our parents were children in Britain during World War Two and their memories also reminded us that the power of evil could impact us as it had impacted them. Although their gas masks looked like Mickey Mouse they were still a reminder that danger was a real possibility. Europe was not necessarily fine and there was much to discuss.

When we arrived in The States in 1999 we came at the end of an era. There was still the assumption here that the US was safe and far away from danger. Waitresses smiled continuously and there was a sense of satisfaction. There seemed to be an abundance of money: sufficient money to throw away on details. There was a sense that we could all fall in love with the present because it was good and we were happy. Vietnam was a bad memory but best swept aside as it should not spoil the fun of the present.

September 11th threw a hand grenade into much of that. It was a terrible day that reminded Americans that evil was a reality and that like Europe, America is not necessarily fine.

Our oldest son Tom is going to college for the first time this week. I hope that he will be challenged to think beyond the fun. Perhaps now there is more debate here about good and evil and while Islam seems to be more threatening than communism, it demands a response in the same way that the Iron Curtain provoked us to comment. September 11th can never be justified but the Bible teaches that God works for good in those who love him and I think that there is value in being challenged to question why. Without recognizing evil we cannot understand our need for a savior. This world is full of evil, full of examples of man hating man.

Jesus is God who came to Earth as a baby, at the first Christmas, to grow up to die for us to receive the punishment that we deserve, at the first Easter. My desire is that our son, Tom, will be in an environment, like I was, where students are prepared to push aside the Easter bunny and Santa Claus and consider how Jesus stands against evil with his love and hope. Instead of hiding behind fixed smiles, we also can consider the claims of Jesus and how he can help a hurting world, how Jesus can help us. Pursuing truth will offend but it is more purposeful than avoiding conflict by saying nothing. It is more purposeful than pretending that the Easter bunny has all the answers, smoothing over family difficulties by offering candy to maintain peace. This fictional interpretation of Easter contrasts hugely with what Jesus achieved on the first Easter when he shed his precious blood to offer peace to a people who deserve punishment.

As I travel to Chicago with Tom tomorrow I will be silent for a few days, Please use this time to scroll back to the beginning of this blog to see what I was like when I was also seventeen and starting college, and how God changed my life. Read some of the comments, including a current conversation investigating the meaning of life.

May God bless you.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

college is a place to ask why

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