100 years ago it was referred to as The Great War, the war to end all
wars. Only did it rise to #1 status after The Big One, WWII came along 25 years
later. It was a true test for the United States, a test of our character, of us
the people, to see how we would react to tyranny and evil throughout the world.
And even though we entered it late, and it was the first big war we fought on
only foreign shores, it changed us forever. We won, and accepted all the glory
that goes with victory, but also the responsibility that goes with it. Our
entire outlook on life and the world had changed in a few short years, and from
a man we had changed. Some big, some small that would be big, but the war had
changed all of us.
100 years ago we were mostly an agrarian nation, with the bulk of people
living outside of cities. Our population was roughly on third of what it is
today, electricity, phones, indoor plumbing, and even shoes for kids under 15
were unknown in farming communities. Although prosperous, we were confined to
life in a 20-100 mile radius, big city life was only imagined and dreamt of from
pictures, and foreign lands were so foreign, even travel with the 48 states was
a big deal. Imagine only 4-5 days from coast to coast by train, no roads, only
dirt mixed with gravel, no motels when you did, and as a farmer you had to be as
much mechanical as agricultural. Your family was born on farms and stayed on
farms for generations, and that was your future too. Now men were coming back
from Europe, having seen things they could not even have imagined before, and a
popular song of the time sang about them “how ya gonna keep them down on the
farm, after they’ve seen Paree?” They had seen the world outside of theirs, and
wanted more from life than what they had. They came back with visions of bright
lights, clubs open all night, cars and trolleys, huge trains that held hundreds,
and a land, world so big they couldn’t find words to describe it. They were
changed, their character was changed, and they would never be the same. Nor
would the US of A. We were victors, we had fought the enemy and won, and now
were ready to enjoy all the spoils, along with the responsibility of being a
world power. What we had done defined who we were, we had seen Paree, and no
one was gong to keep us down any more.
Before I came to Christ, my whole Christian experience was Sunday school,
forced on me by parents who didn’t even go to church. No teaching or thoughts
of hell, I had never killed anyone, I had run over a guy once, but he had been
warned, so in my mind it was alright. I was no sinner. I had my own gospel,
only Jesus wasn’t part of it. It was only after the holy spirit opened my eyes
to sin that I knew it was bad. Until then I had no reason to repent, now I
did. But to who, the church? I had talked to preachers, but they dismissed me
as a long haired, bigot. Only in Jesus did I find acceptance, and it was he who
changed my heart. It was his spirit that made the scriptures come alive, who
showed me the bright lights of heaven, and that being a Christian was more than
a set of thou shalt not rules imposed on me by religion. No way were they going
to keep me down after I’d seen heaven, never would I want to go back to life as
it was. Now I had a hope and a future. I was forgiven, born again, and loved.
The happiness I had enjoyed was now turned to joy, and I still cannot put it
into words. All my sins, even murder that some religions told me was
unforgivable was forgiven in Christ. I had a new song to sing, and someone to
sing it about.
Sometime in your life, if it hasn’t already happened, you will be asked in
your spirit “who do you say Jesus is?” It may be in church, a Bible study, or
even alone when the voice of God speaks to you. A voice that has been telling
you for years in words and actions “you need Jesus,” and you will have to give
an answer. An accounting to God. Because he wants to save you, not condemn
you, it is the invitation that releases you from the past into the future, and
gives you one. It is where your true character begins, as you begin to see the
true character of Jesus Christ. Where the bright lights are calling, and the
darkness of the past no longer entice you. It is the victory over a battle that
you didn’t know was raging inside you, a battle for your very soul, with eternal
results. For just as some men went to fight and didn’t return, some would not
return from spiritual battles either, for only with Jesus you can and will.
Life is too big a prize to lose over religion. We now see Jesus, where once we
saw death. We see life where we once saw despair. We have hope where we just
tried to get by today. We had a future, where we were only taught about the
past.
True character is exposed under fire, the true character of God was shown
when he sent Jesus to die in our place on the cross. Have you seen Paree?
Paris has nothing over heaven. Have you tasted of the things of the spirit?
What is keeping you down on the farm or in life? What excuse are you making for
not be blessed by the creator of the universe? Of the only one who can save
you? Will it take a war of epic proportions to get your attention, or can you
hear that still small voice today?
The fight for your soul is the original and bloodiest war ever, or that
ever will be. Jesus shed his own blood to ensure us victory. You can now enjoy
today because you have a future, or brood about your past. Maybe the song we
learned in Sunday school said it all “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible
tells me so.” But how nice to experience that love first hand and from others.
Here’s your chance to do the same....to others. With others. How are you ever
going to share the things of Jesus if you never go there?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com