It was 76 years ago that early on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Japan attacked our naval and airbase at Pearl Harbor. It was a surprise and unprovoked attack that propelled the USA into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “a date that will live in infamy.” On this anniversary of Pearl Harbor, there are several thoughts with spiritual applications that come to mind.
(1) Isn’t Satan a lot like that attack? He strikes without warning. He attacks when we least expect it. Like the soldiers who were doing their routine duty on that fateful day, we are going about our business, feeling secure and safe, then suddenly Satan drops a bomb on us that leaves us wounded or running for cover.
I am amazed at how suddenly he can sneak up on me. One minute I am fine and the next I am fighting off some fleshly assault of word or deed. Peter’s warning is proper, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)
(2) When you consider this attack in 1941, the United States was not involved in the war. We were a bystander. Japan’s actions forced our participation. We had no choice but to defend our country.
Likewise, the actions of others sometimes require our attention, even force us to take a stand. In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul calls us to put on the Christian armor, wield the sword of the spirit and engage in the fight for the truth. While this should not be an excuse for brotherhood bickering or political posturing, there is a time and place for Christians to take a stand and engage the enemy in spiritual warfare.
(3) In 1941 we knew who the enemy was and directed our efforts toward his defeat. Americans were united in this. Personal opinions were put aside. Sacrifice was the order of the day. And each American felt obligated to do what they could to help win the war.
We have lost that spirit today. Not only patriotically in our country, but spiritually as well. Brethren, we need to remember who the enemy is and fight him, not each other. The apostle Paul issued this warning, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Gal. 5:15)
(4) Much has changed in the past 76 years. Japan is no longer our enemy. In fact, we have a peaceful relationship with the people who once attacked us.
There is a good lesson in this. We need to develop the same spirit in our relationships. When someone attacks us without any right or reason to do so, it is natural to feel hurt, and experience a strain in our relationship. But just like people of our nations can forgive, forget and put the past behind them, we can too in our personal relations.
Jesus taught us to “forgive our debtors.” In fact, he said that when we do that, God forgives us, but if we fail to forgive those who sin against us, God will not forgive us.
Let us learn from the lessons that history teaches. And watch out for those sneak attacks!
—Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Very nice!
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Reblogged this on ThePreachersWord and commented:
This post was penned two years ago, so it has been 78 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The lessons, however, remain the same. On this anniversary, and with so many new readers, we are reblogging this post for your thoughful consideration.
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Ken. Thanks for this post. You have given me much to think about.
When a neighbour or a good friend suddenly desamates your life with bombs…naturally you’re going to rally all your closest friends and family members to your defence and strike back and subdue the enemy.
So, I am perplexed. How do you Ken and others think Jesus felt when Peter denied and disowned his relationship with Jesus? Or for that matter how did Peter feel when Jesus said to him …get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block for me? What was the root cause behind Peter’s denial and Jesus’ sudden attack on Peter’s character after choosing him as Cephas…the Rock on which a whole new community of faith was to be built?
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