Chapter – 2 ‘The Chaplin speaks to Soldiers’
The young Chaplin walking behind the medic had once studied as a Jewish Rabbi; now he was a Lieutenant in the Army serving as a soldier. He had once taught the Hebrew language and its mysteries at weekly symposiums. Now he was a messianic Christian, a teacher of the scriptures to many of the soldiers, who were ordered to the front lines of battle.
He was twenty-eight now. He had recently been wondering why it had taken him so long to have gained the understanding that the Christian Christ, Jesus by name, was actually the incarnate God who had been involved with creation. All of the signs were in the old Hebrew bible that he had read since a pre-teenager.
Once, while talking with a long haired hippy looking guy about his age, in a coffee shop near Atlanta, a most unexpected change occurred in his life. He had agreed to openly discuss their differences in beliefs; he had never felt the inner teaching of the Devine SPIRIT like his new acquaintance, Jeff. As a Jew, he did believe that a person needed to have FAITH in God but far more different than the way Jeff explained the Gospel message of the Christian faith.
Now, four years later, he was combining the old and the new scriptures into one message. His Hebrew understanding and knowledge was second to none as he gathered with the troops some evenings, and the mysteries of the scriptures was spoken as a devotional. Most were young men, away from their families and friends for the first time. Many had not attended a Sunday school or Bible school as young boys; most had just gone through their teen years doing normal things waiting to grow-up and start their adult lives. Most, but not all, were willing to listen to him, especially after a day of sparing with the enemy. The majority of his teachings were fifteen to twenty minutes; not long but there was normally a comment or question that made each of the listeners think about what the Chaplin had just shared.
There was an overcast sky with fog in the lower part of the valley. As morning broke, the enemy started their assault; it was relentless and it lasted until late afternoon. There were no casualties in their group but one of the young men had been wounded. Later that evening after the medic had patched him up; he was resting near the entrance of a small cave with a half dozen other soldiers. It was dark now, real dark, as the Chaplin crouched near the group when one of the soldiers loudly exclaimed, “Why!” Several others that were spread out not far away turned as the loud voice startled them.
The Chaplin responded, “Why; is a question we can all ask. Why; am I here? Why; do men start wars? Why; am I just one heartbeat or breath away from death and eternity? How many of you have ever thought about that question?”.. The Chaplin paused and thought about what to say next, “As a teacher of the scriptures I might ask; why do some supposedly good people go to Hell and why do some supposedly bad people end up in Heaven?” He told them it was a mystery, which just the scriptures had an answer for. He told them it would be nice if they could gather in a warm room and follow along as he read to them. “Tonight I want you to listen to my words. Scripture holds the secret on how to gain eternal life with God. The Christian faith tells us that Christ Jesus is God the Son. It also tells us that each of us are sinful and need to obtain forgiveness. We all need a sin offering OR someone to take our sin upon themselves so when we stand before the judge, we are declared innocent and sinless.”
The Commander of the platoon was several feet away leaning against a tree but had not said anything; but he was listening. He thought back to a time when he had heard the stories of Jesus while attending church as a youth with friends. He was about to comment when the wounded soldier asked, “How do I become sinless before the judge you mentioned?”
The Chaplin responded, “Back in the book of Leviticus there is a section in chapter sixteen that is titled, ‘the Atonement’. Blood had to be shed. The blood of God the Son was shed on the cross almost two-thousand years ago and it was done just one time for all people. HE provided and still provides the atonement needed.” He told them that scripture tells us that we must each REPENT [turn from sin, turn to God] and Believe in the Gospel Mark 1:15. “One more thing, Romans 10:9-10 with your own mouth you must confess Jesus as your Lord. Are any of you interested in making sure that when you take your last breath and go out into eternity, it will be in Paradise, not the other place?” It was quiet for a few moments until a muffled sob was heard in the darkness.
.. It was just another moment when the group heard a voice they each recognized; it was Commander Holt speaking, “I’ve been searching for the answer since I was a kid. I’m ready to acknowledge that I need Jesus in my life, Chaplin, so talk with me.”
The Chaplin invited ‘all’ that wanted the blood of Jesus as their atonement to pray with him. From memory the Chaplin spoke the words just like the Apostle Paul, a first generation messianic Christian, using several verses that the Apostle wrote. Chaplin Yosef, used the words, Grace, Repentance, Confession, Acceptance, Faith, and Trust as he spoke with them. He could hear the voices of several of them responding. What he could not hear was the voices in heaven, those of the Angels, who were rejoicing…
Fortunately for the Chaplin and the possibility of discipline, Major Cox was in his tent on a call with headquarters. Did the Chaplin cross the line on the Majors orders to him? [A fine line.]
DG
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Mark 1:14-15, Now after John [the Baptist] had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and trust in the gospel.”
Romans 10:9-10, That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Hebrews 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Acts 5:29, But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. [An eternal choice.]