A Sleeping Giant

December 7, 1941 is one of the darkest days in our nation's history. The attack on Hickam Air Force Base and the Pacific Fleet moored in Pearl Harbor was a devastating blow this country still has not forgotten. The U.S. Armed Services at that time was a dominating force in the world. It is reported to be said by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto shortly after the attacks, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." The U. S. military was to become a force to be reckoned with.  That war would be fought in both hemisphere, with the help of many allies: Britain, France, USSR, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Yugoslavia. Through that teamwork, many suffering and oppressed nations were freed. During that terrible war, 48,231,000 military and civilian lives were lost. Soldiers who stormed the beach at Normandy three-and-a-half long years later on June 6, 1944 are some of the most revered, and respected men in modern history.

 

I think about the reputation of the military force that was awakened that day, as the clouds parted that balmy December morning in Hawaii. How much mightier are we as the army of God? The reputation of that army around the globe is not one of great strength as it was in ancient times. "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." Joshua 2:10-11. We are soldiers of the same almighty God fighting in the same army. The God of heaven and earth is still the commander over all battles and when we are true and faithful to Him we will not be defeated. Yet we sleep like those who are afraid to fight.  We cower from situations that may offend, bring about ridicule, or, heaven forbid, result in being harmed physically.

 

Our lives are already lost they so they should be considered negligible.  As children of God, we have not been taught that when we give our lives to Christ, at that moment, we become living martyrs. And that is not figuratively speaking. To fully grasp that fact is to move past the fear of losing what we don't have anyway and accept what Christ has for our lives from a whole new perspective. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:25. Some think with paralyzing fear about the reality of having to give up our lives for Christ. When did we forget that we already have?!? Or is it that we never really understood that concept from the time we starting following Christ? I admit it is not a thought I embrace quickly, and is easy to say sitting in my living room by the fire with my dog at my feet, but the closer to I draw to Christ the more I understand the level of commitment Christ expects from me. What an honor to be one who Christ chooses to ask to lay it all down for His glory! "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16.

 

If the body of Christ really could grasp the position we hold in the world we would raise out of our slumber and be the mighty army of God that is feared, and revered. We are the sleeping giant! For so long we have been taught we must be gentle and mild in order to lead people to Christ and it  has put us in a position of being steam rolled by wickedness. We must treat the lost with love and extend mercy and grace. And at the very same time we must not stand idly by while our precious Christ is dishonored. What does it portray to the world if, as followers of Christ, we won't even defend Him? It sends the message that He is not worthy of being defended, and for that we should be ashamed. The drive of a soldier is devotion to the leader or cause he/she is defending, a dedication and a value of the cause that is higher than their own life. Winston Churchill declared, “We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job.” We have the tools we need. We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us. We must have the resolve to finish the job. We are expected to dedicate ourselves to the cause of Christ. The closer we are to Him the clearer we see the value of that battle and will awaken from our slumber to defend it.