|
The General Who Kept His Word |
|
|
|
Themes: "Return of Christ, God's Unfailing Promises SS In World War II, Douglas MacArthur, a famous general, made a bold promise to the United States Army. MacArthur was retreating from the army. They would have to fight alone. MacArthur was a strong leader. His men looked up to him. What would they do without their general? The general had to retreat, but his promise to the army was, "I shall return."
General MacArthur was trying to protect the Philippines from Japan. The Philippines are a group of islands between Australia and Japan. In 1942, Japan invaded the Philippines and the United States Army ran and hid on the other end of the Island. MacArthur needed more soldiers to fight. He needed big ships and weapons to beat the Japanese, but nobody came to help him. The Japanese came closer and closer until MacArthur's men were trapped!
MacArthur had to sneak off the Island. He left his men to face the big army from Japan. They would have to fight alone. When MacArthur left, he knew that some of his men would die. MacArthur sailed off safely to Australia. That is when he made his famous promise, "I shall return."
Would MacArthur return? The Japanese won more battles. There was fear in every American home that Japan would eventually win the war. The men MacArthur left behind seemed lost. Nobody could help them. They were prisoners of cruel prison camps. It looked hopeless.
MacArthur did return to the Philippines just as he had promised. On October 20, l944, the general found himself on a ship sailing toward the shore of the Philippines. It had taken 31 months to return, but the U.S. Army had gotten much stronger. They had won many victories over Japan. Now, MacArthur was coming back to the Islands. After the Japanese were defeated, the general waded ashore. A photographer snapped a picture of the general and his men while they waded onto the beach. The famous picture was printed in newspapers all around the world. The general had returned.
MacArthur spoke over the radio to the people he had left behind. He said, "People of the Philippines, I have returned. The hour of your redemption is here." The American flag was raised again instead of the Japanese. People put flowers in the generals pathway. They ran up to him and shook his hand. He had kept his word and he had returned.
Another man, much greater than MacArthur made an even bigger promise. Jesus left the world. He said, "If I go, I will come again." Jesus left by rising through the clouds into heaven. He left his followers on earth to wait for him. It has been nearly 2000 years since Jesus said he would come again. He hasn't returned yet, but we know he will come back. Jesus will return.
The most important question you must answer is, "Am I ready if He returns". Only those who have been saved will be prepared for His coming.( 1Thes.4:14-18).
Other pages in this section
|
Simon Wallace