For most of us, Pearl Harbor is just a page in a history book or a documentary on The History Channel. But even as the horrors of the attack fade, the powerful words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt ring loud — “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in Infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
Several years ago, I looked across Pearl Harbor at the USS Missouri and the memorial that straddles the USS Arizona. The sunken ship marks where 1,176 soldiers died that fateful Sunday morning. As I soaked up the beauty and somber history, I noticed an unassuming plaque on a low retaining wall.
The plaque read, “Lest I keep my complacent way, I must remember somewhere out there a person died for me today. As long as there must be war, I ask and I must answer, was I worth dying for? Eleanor Roosevelt
Facebook recently reminded me of the plaque. This time, though, the First Lady’s words took on new meaning for me. The battle scars of life came to mind: unexpected attacks from the enemy, costly skirmishes, and the death of valued life soldiers.
My faith community uses the words “Great Controversy” to describe the battle between good and evil — God and Satan. This World War has raged since that fateful shared apple—the Day of Infamy for our planet. And as you know, you are smack dab in the crosshairs of the conflict.
But there is Good News — really Good News! A Person died for you!
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NLT
Despite the assurance of this verse, a friend confided in me about her great fear. “You don’t understand what I’ve done. There’s no way God could ever forgive me for what I’ve done.” Have you ever felt that way? Has the Enemy ever led you to believe that you weren’t worth the covering blood of Christ?
I love Romans 8:35 & 37 NLT — “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
While you were a sinner, Christ died for you (Romans 8:5). Were you worth dying for? The Man on the Middle Cross answered that question with his Life! Believe it. Rest in that knowledge. Live with thankfulness for His battle scars.
After reading Eleanor Roosevelt’s words, I toured the USS Missouri and read a brass plaque embedded in the deck of the ship. In part, it read, “Over this spot on 2 September 1942, the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the Allied powers was signed, thus bringing to a close the Second World War.”
Today, the war rages on. The collateral damage is painful and, at times, disheartening. But a day is coming when, like General Douglas MacArthur, Christ will fulfill His promise to return.
Until that Great Day, live worthy of His death, my friend.