Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The Day That Lives Down in Infamy
Sixty-four years ago, the United States was given its final push into World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor. War is said to bring out the worst in people, but it also has ability to bring to light heroes that otherwise might never have been noticed. Today was spent reflecting on those great men of the past--men who fought for good, for their wives and children, and for their country. They did what they knew to be right. For our todays, they gave their tomorrows.
One man who fought was a bombardier named Jake DeShazer. He was part of the first attack on Japan as a Doolittle Raiders. After successfully releasing the bombs, his plane was lost in the fog until the gas ran out. As Jake parachuted out, he remembered back to his days of growing up in church. He'd heard the Gospel before, but never paid attention to it, until now. Yet somehow He couldn't bring himself to trust God's mercy. How could He accept him when he hadn't lived a life for God?
Landing, he found himself in enemy territory and in the hands of the Japanese, along with others from the Doolittle Raider unit. Torture came, as was to be expected. It was only after one of them died that better treatment was received. With that came the allowance of books. One was allowed to pick a book to read for three weeks. Jake's choice was a Bible.
In those three weeks, he read the Bible over and over and over again, memorizing passages as he went. It was when he came to Romans 10:9, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved," that the Holy Spirit broke into his darkness and revealed to him the Truth. Jake said, "Lord, though I am far from home and though I am in prison, I must have forgiveness." As he prayed, joy swept over him! The change in Jake was seen by all those around him. "Loving your enemies" became a theme in his life.
Jake had been in prison over three years by the time the paratroopers stormed the prison and released all the prisoners. He was taken to a hospital to recuperate before being taken back to the United States and his family. It was there that he felt God's call on his life to full-time missions work--in Japan. Graduating from high school a whole 14 years earlier, Jake entered college to begin training. While raising money to go, Jake wrote a tract called "I Was a Prisoner of Japan."
One million of these tracts was distributed all over Japan by the time of his arrival. People crowded to hear his speak. How could a man who was tortured by their people come back to try to help them? Lives were changed as many trusted Christ as their Savior. Not all were touched through Jake's speaking, though. Mitsuo Fuchida was on his way to a war criminal trial when he saw someone handing out pamphlets. You guessed it, it was none other than Jake's tract. Reading it made him want to find out more, so he got a Bible. When he got to Jesus crying out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," he fell down on his knees and began to weep. It was that day that Japan's top aviator, the man who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, repented and trusted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Jake and Mitsuo together went on to lead many to Christ.
In those days, "uncommon valor was a common virtue." These men left not only a physical legacy, but a spiritual one. They stood up for what is right and true. They recognized God's hand in their lives, leading them to defend their families and country. As the next generation, it is now our turn to take the helm. Like them, we need to give our todays for the next generation's tomorrows.
For all you that made it this far, congrats!! This is why I rarely write out my thoughts; they're too "roomy," as a friend accurately described them. One thing I did in honor of the day was to watch "The League of Grateful Sons." It took less than three minutes of watching it to totally wow me! Parts made me want to cry, while other parts inspired. Also, how the Botkin family worked together to make it is very impressive! The movie is now on my list as a movie everyone has to see! Because of this, I'm going to be placing an order for more to give away. Vision Forum has discounted the DVDs for those ordering 3 or more. Instead of the $18 (already a $2 discount), they are only $12 plus shipping. I'm taking orders for people who want to take advantage of the discount, so if you're interested in buying a copy or two or three, let me know! [Offer no longer available]
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One man who fought was a bombardier named Jake DeShazer. He was part of the first attack on Japan as a Doolittle Raiders. After successfully releasing the bombs, his plane was lost in the fog until the gas ran out. As Jake parachuted out, he remembered back to his days of growing up in church. He'd heard the Gospel before, but never paid attention to it, until now. Yet somehow He couldn't bring himself to trust God's mercy. How could He accept him when he hadn't lived a life for God?
Landing, he found himself in enemy territory and in the hands of the Japanese, along with others from the Doolittle Raider unit. Torture came, as was to be expected. It was only after one of them died that better treatment was received. With that came the allowance of books. One was allowed to pick a book to read for three weeks. Jake's choice was a Bible.
In those three weeks, he read the Bible over and over and over again, memorizing passages as he went. It was when he came to Romans 10:9, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved," that the Holy Spirit broke into his darkness and revealed to him the Truth. Jake said, "Lord, though I am far from home and though I am in prison, I must have forgiveness." As he prayed, joy swept over him! The change in Jake was seen by all those around him. "Loving your enemies" became a theme in his life.
Jake had been in prison over three years by the time the paratroopers stormed the prison and released all the prisoners. He was taken to a hospital to recuperate before being taken back to the United States and his family. It was there that he felt God's call on his life to full-time missions work--in Japan. Graduating from high school a whole 14 years earlier, Jake entered college to begin training. While raising money to go, Jake wrote a tract called "I Was a Prisoner of Japan."
One million of these tracts was distributed all over Japan by the time of his arrival. People crowded to hear his speak. How could a man who was tortured by their people come back to try to help them? Lives were changed as many trusted Christ as their Savior. Not all were touched through Jake's speaking, though. Mitsuo Fuchida was on his way to a war criminal trial when he saw someone handing out pamphlets. You guessed it, it was none other than Jake's tract. Reading it made him want to find out more, so he got a Bible. When he got to Jesus crying out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," he fell down on his knees and began to weep. It was that day that Japan's top aviator, the man who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, repented and trusted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Jake and Mitsuo together went on to lead many to Christ.
In those days, "uncommon valor was a common virtue." These men left not only a physical legacy, but a spiritual one. They stood up for what is right and true. They recognized God's hand in their lives, leading them to defend their families and country. As the next generation, it is now our turn to take the helm. Like them, we need to give our todays for the next generation's tomorrows.
For all you that made it this far, congrats!! This is why I rarely write out my thoughts; they're too "roomy," as a friend accurately described them. One thing I did in honor of the day was to watch "The League of Grateful Sons." It took less than three minutes of watching it to totally wow me! Parts made me want to cry, while other parts inspired. Also, how the Botkin family worked together to make it is very impressive! The movie is now on my list as a movie everyone has to see! Because of this, I'm going to be placing an order for more to give away. Vision Forum has discounted the DVDs for those ordering 3 or more. Instead of the $18 (already a $2 discount), they are only $12 plus shipping. I'm taking orders for people who want to take advantage of the discount, so if you're interested in buying a copy or two or three, let me know! [Offer no longer available]
