Remembrance Day by Cliff Halls

Remembrance Day, an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made for liberty. As we ponder this thought ‘sacrifices for liberty’ we remember the ones that gave their lives in various wars. As weaponry has changed over the years, so has the battle changed. Battles used to be face to face, you could see the enemy, the person you were to kill, or be killed by. Today it would seem, the enemy can be many miles away and still cause havoc with pin point accuracy.

Many a story has been told of a hero who took the bullet to save someone else. During the second world war there were many brave acts made by different individuals. One such act was not during a battle, but in a prison camp. This camp was located close to the bridge over the River Kwai. The men had been returned to camp and the tools were being counted, only to find one item missing. (It was thought that one of the men had exchanged it with one of the locals for food or medicine) The men were told that unless the person owned up they would all die, eventually one man stepped forward, he was mercilessly beaten to death. The tools were later counted again, only to find out, they were all present and correct.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(JOHN 15:13)

This is another story displaying that love: One day, the land of Switzerland was being attacked by an army, and all the Swiss men had gathered into the valley below the mountain. They had gone there to defend their homes, and their children; and all that they held dear in life, they went to defend it. They were just a small group, and they saw coming towards them a great marching army as far as the eye could see, every man trained with spear, and shield, and helmets, and great armours on, perfectly trained, not one man out of step. Here they were standing, with old sickle blades, and rocks, and sticks in their hands to fight with. What could that little army do against such a trained army? They were helpless. There was nothing they could do.

Then a young man stepped out, of about the age of thirty-three, and he said, "Gentlemen of Switzerland, this day I'll give my life for Switzerland." They said, "Arnold Von Winkelried, what can you do against such a great host? He said, "Just beyond the mountain, I kissed my wife and three children good-bye. And there's a little white home, and they're standing in the doorway to watch for me to come home, but, I'll never see them again on this earth, for today I give my life for Switzerland”. They said, "What will you do, Mr. Arnold Von Winkelried?" He said, "You just follow me, and whatever you've got to fight with, fight with all that's in you." And he threw down what he had in his hand; he saw that great army coming on, and he looked it all over, until he found the very thickest of the spears. And as the story goes, he raised his hands and ran right towards the midst of the spears, screaming, "Make way for liberty." And he screamed again, "Make way for liberty." And he run right into the army, and he threw out his arms and got a whole armload of spears, and plunged them into his chest. Such a display of heroism, it routed the army, and those little Swiss men with sticks and stone, and sickle blades, routed that army out of their territory, and they haven't had a war since.

You hear people say “I’m only one person what can I do to change things.” Arnold Von Winkelried was just one person. William Tyndale, by translating the Bible into English changed the world. D.L.Moody, his ministry was greatly inspired by a statement made when he attended a meeting in London, England. A man called Henry Varley was speaking and said “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man wholly committed to him.”

Remember Jesus laid down His life for you. He did not commit the sin, but He paid the penalty. He died, so you wouldn’t have to. Men and women gave up their lives, so you could have this Gospel.

God uses individuals, God desires to use you, Let Him know you are willing to be used.

Will you stand for the gospel? We speak of revival, with revival comes a price to pay. Are you willing to pay the price? or, shall we let someone else do it, and perhaps we may reap some of the benefits? All to long within our churches it is the few that do all the work, we all have a part to play, the pastor can’t do it all. He may try, and all you will end up with is a burnt out pastor. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder like a mighty army, and make our stand against the enemy of our souls. We need a personal revival, then and only then, we can touch the lives around us.