We are coming to the 77th anniversary of the attempted appeasement of Adolph Hitler in the Munich Agreement. The world was on the brink of war and this deal was an ill-advised attempt to hold off Hitler's aggression. Munich would again capture the world's attention 34 years later.
I recently watched a documentary on the Munich Summer Olympics massacre from the first week of September 1972. I had seen the film before and might even be compelled to view it again if the opportunity arose. Murderous hate such as displayed before the world in the Olympic Village almost 43 years to the day from today has since become commonplace, so common that we now not only negotiate with terrorists, we humble ourselves in appeasement to them; but there was one segment of the film that is difficult to dislodge from my mind. Gunfire at the airport had erupted and the world waited. A report came in....all nine Israeli athletes were safe and the terrorists were all killed. Do those of you old enough remember that?
I was in my last few weeks in the army at the time. Having no real duties to speak of, I spent my time playing chess and watching these Olympics. Some newspapers had headlined the news....'All Hostages Safe.' Then ABC's Jim McKay tried to prepare listeners for the truth.....all nine hostages were in fact murdered in the final assault. Nothing of the future is certain other than what God has spoken of in His Word.
The following is a well-known passage from the fifth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians..."But concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them.....' It would behoove all Christians to follow the news of the world with this caveat in mind for it would serve to temper the confidence that most people seem to emote that things may get bad, and maybe set us back in our 401k....but not catastrophic......that just can't happen to us!
I'll add to this short post two chapters from a post published in May of 2014:
I was in a state prison this morning visiting a friend incarcerated there. The visiting room was packed with inmates and their families and friends. It was a moving experience. On the way home I stopped at a college campus. It also was packed with families of possible future students being shown around the campus. If you have followed my posts for any amount of time you may be tired of this anecdote; Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew for certain that the Lord Jesus was to return the very next day. Luther's answer was "I'd plant a tree." It would be irresponsible to our families not to plan for the future and it would be irresponsible as citizens not to pray for wisdom and discernment...and strength....in at least attempting to elect wise and honorable leaders but there is also reality to face.
It is the height of absurdity for us look to presidential elections as if they hold the key to our survival. It's beyond presumption to think that we can stop our fall or even defend ourselves against our enemies without national repentance and God's mercy upon us. But we, as a general consensus anyway, no longer attribute our existence to Him. Difficult days are ahead and that is even with God's mercy. Yes, plant that tree...make those plans.... always adding "should the Lord will it," but be prepared also for God's judgement upon our nation for we have gone beyond tempting Him to punish us....to goading Him and mocking the mere mention of His righteous judgement upon a nation.
I recently watched a documentary on the Munich Summer Olympics massacre from the first week of September 1972. I had seen the film before and might even be compelled to view it again if the opportunity arose. Murderous hate such as displayed before the world in the Olympic Village almost 43 years to the day from today has since become commonplace, so common that we now not only negotiate with terrorists, we humble ourselves in appeasement to them; but there was one segment of the film that is difficult to dislodge from my mind. Gunfire at the airport had erupted and the world waited. A report came in....all nine Israeli athletes were safe and the terrorists were all killed. Do those of you old enough remember that?
I was in my last few weeks in the army at the time. Having no real duties to speak of, I spent my time playing chess and watching these Olympics. Some newspapers had headlined the news....'All Hostages Safe.' Then ABC's Jim McKay tried to prepare listeners for the truth.....all nine hostages were in fact murdered in the final assault. Nothing of the future is certain other than what God has spoken of in His Word.
The following is a well-known passage from the fifth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians..."But concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them.....' It would behoove all Christians to follow the news of the world with this caveat in mind for it would serve to temper the confidence that most people seem to emote that things may get bad, and maybe set us back in our 401k....but not catastrophic......that just can't happen to us!
I'll add to this short post two chapters from a post published in May of 2014:
I was in a state prison this morning visiting a friend incarcerated there. The visiting room was packed with inmates and their families and friends. It was a moving experience. On the way home I stopped at a college campus. It also was packed with families of possible future students being shown around the campus. If you have followed my posts for any amount of time you may be tired of this anecdote; Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew for certain that the Lord Jesus was to return the very next day. Luther's answer was "I'd plant a tree." It would be irresponsible to our families not to plan for the future and it would be irresponsible as citizens not to pray for wisdom and discernment...and strength....in at least attempting to elect wise and honorable leaders but there is also reality to face.
It is the height of absurdity for us look to presidential elections as if they hold the key to our survival. It's beyond presumption to think that we can stop our fall or even defend ourselves against our enemies without national repentance and God's mercy upon us. But we, as a general consensus anyway, no longer attribute our existence to Him. Difficult days are ahead and that is even with God's mercy. Yes, plant that tree...make those plans.... always adding "should the Lord will it," but be prepared also for God's judgement upon our nation for we have gone beyond tempting Him to punish us....to goading Him and mocking the mere mention of His righteous judgement upon a nation.
