Chapter – 3 ‘One Soldier Trust’s’
It had been five days since Commander Holt had repented & given his heart to the Lord. The young men were watching him more closely now to see if he used some of the strong language when shouting at them like he had done on previous occasions. The Chaplin had taken an additional evening and talked with the troops about being a witness with their outward actions. Yosef had talked about serving the Lord at times with our silent actions such as the Golden Rule Math. 7:12.. Once, when the Commander had gone to meet with the other Platoon leaders, Yosef mentioned that the Commander was under stress and extreme pressure. At that moment Commander Holt and his peers were getting an earful from their superior, Major Cox; he didn’t try to be kind or political while he was on the front lines. His style in combat was intimidation and strong words with threats of one kind or another. Having picnics were for the women and children stateside, not in a war zone.
Chaplin Yosef was watching for the Commander as the troops were spread out watching for any movement from the enemy. Yosef met the platoon Commander as he returned. He was grim and looked tired as his eyes rose to meet those of Yosef. He spoke, “We have orders to move up another couple hundred yards right after sunset. I don’t like it but I have orders.” Yosef nodded and walked next to the Commander until the Commander shouted for all to muster except those on ‘watch’. He told the men they were to take the next hill after sunset, He commented, “The Major had word from INTEL; the enemy had retreated and moved back a quarter-mile waiting for reinforcements. Our platoon steps out first.”
He paused and looked at each of the soldiers for a good thirty-seconds and then spoke, “If I was one of you who didn’t seem to have a need to pray for the Lord to become your savior the other night; I would strongly think about it over the next half an hour. The Chaplin will be right here if you need to talk to him.” Revelation 3:19-21
The men broke up and moved back to their spots where they could watch for an attacking enemy. Graham and Beaman were two of the guys who had toughed it out. They didn’t want to seem weak and so they had not prayed the prayer. But now, after the words the Commander had spoken; both were thinking the ‘what if’ thought. At just the same instant, both caught the others eye. Graham spoke, “I’m thinking about talking with the Chaplin, how about you?” Beaman thought a second then told Graham that he thought he would be ok. Graham looked toward the setting sun, then walked toward Yosef.
Yosef had his eyes closed in prayer asking God for the safety of each troop in the platoon; as he started a new thought he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Graham spoke, “I’d like to have that prayer with you now. Tell me how it is that Jesus becomes my atonement for sin.” The Chaplin spoke several of the same things and words he had said the time Commander Holt had repented and trusted; then had asked for Jesus to become his SAVIOR.
Graham asked, “Why is it that we call upon Jesus and not God for the ATONEMENT?” Yosef replied, “We try to do it the bible way.” He told Graham that Jesus was God in the flesh, who became a man so that he could suffer in our place as man, but then shed his blood as God, so that he could be the substitute for each of us. “We have to have Faith that the Word is from God and that what God says, God means. Your faith will grow as you study and learn more about what scripture tells us.” Graham nodded and then spoke, “I need you Jesus, to be my Savior and Lord. I have been a sinful person on several occasions and I’m asking you to become my atonement for sin. Please help me to become a good example as a Christian man.”
The Chaplin put his hand on Graham’s shoulder and commented, “You have just been born again. The spirit of God will be your new conscience. When you mess up you will know it and that’s the time you quickly lift a short prayer to God and ask for forgiveness. That is what the rest of us Christians have to do when we fail and sin. Though we are now Christ followers, we are still mortal and fail at times.” Just then the Commander shouted for all troops to muster.
The four Commanders had their platoons ready. Major Cox gave the word and the first row of men silently started their advance. Each platoon now had men moving to the north. It was quiet at the moment but just as the last of the foot soldiers had moved toward the north there was a loud shrill sound above them coming from the north. A missile of some kind had landed toward the rear of the advancing troops. The explosion sent soldiers running northward as fast as their legs would take them.
What might have taken a good hour to attain the distant hill was done in less than ten minutes, that is, for all but two soldiers. They were laying in the rubble from the one missile blast and the medics were trying gallantly to assist them.
One of the soldiers was from the 2nd platoon but the other man was Graham; he was the young man who had just minutes earlier prayed with the Chaplin. His earthly life was over; his last breath taken; his soul was now in eternity.
Once the platoon got word of their deceased comrade, Beaman shouted, “Why him? I thought he just made a deal with God.” It was quiet for several moments and finally the Chaplin spoke, “There is a time for everything. There is a time to be born but there is also a time to die.” Eccl.3:1-2 & Psalms 90:12. He told the troops that God determines that mystery, “We as mankind must be prepared when our time comes. If Graham had not made a decision to make Christ Jesus his Savior earlier today, his destiny in eternity would be in the other place, not Paradise.” He told the soldiers that in Gods mercy, Graham had been like one of the thieves on the cross beside Jesus. “There were two thieves beside Jesus; one accepted Jesus as his Lord and the other rejected or denied Jesus. Both made a choice just like each man in this platoon has to do.” Luke 23:39-43
It was a very quiet evening; each soldier was thinking their own sobering thoughts. A few prayed to their Lord but there were several who were thinking about their eternity.
***
Something to think about; all of us will die one day. When and how it happens are things we don’t know. While we are alive; that is the only time we have to prepare for it. Do you think Beaman would think it was a loss or a gain to Graham once he had taken his last breath and then began his eternal state? Philippians 1:21 Question, What do you think?
Attachment
Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. [Golden Rule]
Rev. 3:19-21, Those whom I [Jesus] love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [Choose Jesus]
Eccl. 3:1-2, There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. etc…
Psalms 90:12, So, teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
Luke 23:39-43, One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.”
Psalms 14:1, The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good [all of the time].
Philippines 1:21, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [A Christ follower; when they die; is promoted]
IF we are Christ followers and have put our TRUST in him, THEN shouldn’t we also believe HE has prepared a place for us to dwell in; a better place? John 14:1-3
DG