We Need You!

We like to plan vacations, or special times of fellowship. Many spend time planning their retirement with the hope of living out their days on earth in peace and comfort. But is there real peace anywhere on this earth?

Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you not as the world gives” (John 14:27). The Bible warns that in the end of time when people claim they have peace and safety, sudden destruction will come (1 Thes. 5:3).

The Bible tells us war began in heaven with Satan’s desire to rule the Universe. God expelled him and his supporters from heaven. Satan found a more receptive place for his rebellion on this earth (Rev 12:7-9). Now the earth is in rebellion and at war with God. 

We have read and heard about countries with similar ambitions to rule, not the Universe, but this world. Nations like Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome accomplished it for a short time. In our more recent history, conflicts like World War I and II were fought over the same issue.

The Dunkirk Miracle

In the late 1930’s Adolf Hitler was determined to rule the world. Germany invaded Belgium, then France. England joined in defending these countries and tried to push the Germans back. But instead, the German army pushed their combined forces back to the port city of Dunkirk, France.

With the German army on three sides and the ocean behind there was no place for the Allied armies to go. German air attacks had virtually destroyed most of the port facilities making it impossible to evacuate the army by ships. The beach at Dunkirk was so shallow that the big ships of the Royal Navy couldn't reach the stranded soldiers. They were in danger of either complete annihilation or having to surrender. 

The British Royal Navy sent out a call for help to all of England for boats to transport their soldiers the mile or so out to the big ships. The people responded with every kind of boat they had—all working for one goal: SAVE THEIR MEN!

On May 20, 1940, the Navy began arranging for these small vessels to be ready to proceed the 47 miles over water to France. By May 31, 400+ small crafts voluntarily and enthusiastically took part: speedboats, pleasure crafts, car ferries and motor lifeboats.

Under the circumstances, this incredible rescue plan was humanly impossible and could not have happened without divine intervention. Because of the strange command from Hitler himself to halt the German army, time was given for the evacuation. Even the weather cooperated by allowing the small boats to navigate in calm waters.  As a result, 338,000 soldiers were rescued in nine days. It became known as the Miracle of Dunkirk.

A few days later Winston Churchill gave a speech to the House of Commons addressing the defeat and near annihilation of the army in France and the continuing threat of invasion into England. He ended his speech by expressing the determination and resolve necessary to achieve victory.

 “We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

In his speech he identified a common enemy that threated the peace and safety of the whole world. This enemy spread tyranny and untold havoc, heartache, and pain wherever it went. 

The message was delivered in person but was never shared (until years later) with others except by news outlets that printed it or read his speech or portions of it over the radio. It resonated so strongly that even though people heard the message only through the voice and pen of others, they received it as if Mr. Churchill himself was speaking to them. The message went to the heart and later many truly believed they had heard the actual voice of Winston Churchill deliver this speech. But I believe the power of God accompanied the message to inspire and strengthen people who heard it, so they would wake up to the danger and join in fighting the common enemy who threatened their existence. 

A War Still Rages

The absence of physical war does not mean there is peace. There is a war still raging—a battle over human hearts and minds. God doesn’t accept peace treaties, only full surrender! Satan lost his attempt to overthrow God’s government and rule the Universe. Now he has turned his efforts to destroying mankind by keeping them from accepting God’s offer to deliver them from his tyranny. Salvation is about removing the rebellion/resistance/war from our hearts. No one still warring against God will be allowed in heaven. 

God commissioned His remnant church, those who have ended their personal war and are now at peace with Him, to give the loud cry message of hope to help bring peace to a dying world. We need your help! Perhaps you are serving in church positions as elders, deacons, Sabbath School or Personal Ministries leaders, etc. or you may not have a specific office. God needs all of us, not just to serve in church offices but to be a living demonstration of what peace with God looks like. 

The Michigan Conference is planning a statewide effort to provide Bible-based answers to a world that’s becoming increasingly unhinged in every way possible. We see natural disasters abounding, morality and decency steeply deteriorating, and tensions increasing between various nations. The signs of Jesus’ soon return are fulfilling before our every eyes. In the month of October, we will be launching a statewide evangelistic initiative entitled “Discovering Revelation” to provide biblical remedies to a sin-sick world.

Just as England united for a singular purpose and gave all they had to defeat the enemy, we, too, must be imbued with the same determination. We need to share and invite those in our communities, our friends, and neighbors to the event so they might hear God’s answers to life’s most important questions. As we approach the end of all things, we’re called to the highways and byways; everyone needs to hear the everlasting gospel.

We wrestle not with flesh and blood. The enemy is at work, and we must provide a counter offensive. Under God’s direction and with His might we are to “fight the enemy on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”