December 3, 2014

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

December 7, 1941 is a "date which will live in infamy" as President Franklin Roosevelt described the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Over 2,400 Americans were killed and another 1,700 wounded as 353 Japanese fighter planes struck without warning at 7:48 a.m. The next day, Roosevelt declared war on the Empire of Japan with little objection from the "non-interventionist" sector of the American population. The United States entered the Second World War.

 

Though it was indeed a day of infamy, December 7, 1941 also was seen as a day giving reason for hope by others. The Allies in Europe had been struggling against the Third Reich and Axis powers. Japan was the imposing force in the Pacific Theater. Winston Churchill often had appealed to Roosevelt for American help against such formidable opponents. But popular sentiment in the States resisted participation, given the failure of World War I to be "the war to end all wars." In other words, this was not America's fight, so stay out of it. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, it suddenly and obviously became America's fight. As Churchill soon would observe, "The sleeping giant has been awakened." And that brought immediate reason for hope to the embattled Allied forces--a hope that would be fulfilled in May 1945 with the conclusion of the war.

 

On several occasions, the Apostle Paul speaks of the Christian life using military imagery. For instance in 2 Corinthians 10:4 he writes, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." In 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Paul encourages Timothy, "fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience." And at his life's end, the Apostle reflects, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

 

We finally are reminded of Paul's lengthy metaphor concerning spiritual battle armor found in Ephesians 6:13-17: "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

 

So in the midst of the spiritual conflict that is part and parcel of Christian life, what gives us hope that we shall prevail? What gives us reason for hope that at the conclusion of the battle of faith, we win? First, we look back to the First Advent or coming of Jesus Christ, which we naturally celebrate at Christmas. The Son of God took up the spiritual fight in person with the power of God to prevail. The Lord and Captain of our faith took to the field of conflict with the sure purpose of overcoming, even though it would cost Him His life. Second, we look forward to the Second Advent of Christ when "He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." Biblical imagery describes Jesus Christ riding on a white horse into the Last Battle, where sin, death, and the devil will be vanquished forever. Our blessed hope will be fulfilled when God then brings a New Heavens and a New Earth (Revelation 19:11-16, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 3:11-13).

 

From December 7, 1941 until May 1945, the battle for victory in World War II continued. And from the First Coming of Christ until the Second Coming of Christ, our battle for spiritual victory continues. But we battle with reason for hope: Christ who came will come again, and heaven and earth will be won.

 

Pastor Tim

 

++++