Today In History
On Nov. 17, 1835, residents of Cincinnati, Ohio, inspired by the Texans' fight for independence, began raising funds to purchase two cannons for the cause. They were shipped down the Mississippi and arrived in Texas in April, just in time for the Battle of San Jacinto.
"It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day."
- Matthew Henry
"When it comes time to die, make sure all you got to do is die." - Jim Elliott
"If winning isn't important, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi
Of Swords and Plowshares
by Michael Quinn Sullivan
During World War II, the United States and its allies began doing something unheard of in the annals of war. They dropped leaflets ahead of bombing runs and other attacksβwarning civilians that local infrastructure was going to be destroyed. The purpose was two-fold: reduce civilian casualties and demoralize the enemy. Through Scripture, God does likewise.
Make no mistake, humanity has been at war with God. We have ignored His precepts, debased His created order, and even sought to pretend He does not exist. The casualties in this war have been entirely one-sided. Everything we do to reject God comes only at our own expense.
Through the Prophet Isaiah, God told us that the war does not have to continue. Isaiah was shown a vision of a future where swords would be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. The implements of war would be turned into tools for tending the garden from which humanity had been expelled.
Later, Joel was shown a different vision. In it, those who wish to battle God are futilely found turning their plows and hooks into swords and spears.
We mock such notions at our peril. How much more foolish is it to think a sword will take down God than it is to believe cosmetic surgery can turn a man into a woman? Sin makes us delusional.
God, speaking through His word, though, provides us with clarity and a choice.
In all ages, a message of liberation will resonate with people who are held captive. Satan doesnβt want us reading Godβs word any more than the Axis powers wanted civilians reading those WWII leaflets distributed by the Allies.
But far better than an escape route to temporary safety, God provides us with a path to salvation.
We can remain in sin and be eternally separated from Him. Or, we can let God do for us through Christ what we cannot do for ourselves.
We can enter the cold night of eternity alone, or we can bask in the warmth of His boundless love.
For those wallowing in their sin, the message from God can be either utterly demoralizing or completely liberating. Stay in sin and face eternal death β¦ or joyfully accept the salvation of Christ.
Through His word, God has shown us that our swords and plowshares are of equally little value. Only by putting our faith in Him will we find victory in the battles of this life and sustenance in His eternal provision.
Tallow -making time.
Today in History
On Nov. 12, 1990, computer scientists Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN proposed the creation of "a HyperText Project" connecting computer servers "as a web of nodes in which the user can browse ... large classes of information." Hence, the World Wide Web was born.