How long will you carry out your mission? A Lesson learned from Hiroo Onoda.
Posted in 2 Timothy, Commanding officer, fighting the good fight, Hannah's post, Hiroo Onoda 1 comments
"No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." 2 Timothy 2:4
A few weeks ago my husband and I were enjoying a rarity in our home: A night alone, together. And like introverted nerds we are, this means we stayed in, ate leftovers and watched the History channel. There is this delightful program called I Love The 1800's. The show sorta highlights bizarre stories throughout history, and this particular episode featured military stories. I was moved by the story of 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda who was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines in 1944 to foil the enemies attacks or advancement. He tried to take the mountains and lost a few soldiers along the way, yet his resolve and his mission did not weary. He fought the fight for 30 years.
That's 29 years after the war actually ended.
Search teams had been sent out to find and inform the Lieutenant of the wars conclusion and end, but even when planes flew over the jungle dropping flyers and news articles, Onoda did not back down from his original mission. Onoda would not give up, he would not surrender, not until he heard from his commanding officer.
In 1974 the Japanese government located Onoda's superior officer, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who finally fulfilled his promise of, "Whatever happens, we'll will come back for you." Onoda was then relieved from his duty and he finally returned home. His 30 year war ended and his guerrilla tactics and attacks were pardoned by President Ferdinand Marcos.
Friends, what would the church look like if we quit getting involved in the hype and drama of whatever is in and now and actually followed through with our original mission? What if we quit listening to the people saying our fight is over, or to "take it easy" and we showed more mercy, more love, more compassion to everyone? What if we continued to fight the good fight until we heard from our Commanding officer?
I will tell you one thing, this chintzy "American dream" faith that modern Christianity abounds in, would not be here. Our churches would be united and our resolve would be absolute. Our bickering would cease and the real battles would be fought efficiently.
Believers, it's time we listen to what we were told to do and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Don't throw a fit because someone wished you a "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." It doesn't matter that Brother Burden doesn't allow Halloween in his home anymore, or that you do. These things have nothing to do with Gospel. Sure it might be your conviction, but your convictions are not replacements for our Command. You were not commanded to watch the "Know Your Enemy" series on Youtube. I mean you can, but the point is if you don't follow through with the original command your battle, your fight is useless.
Friends, if Sally Sunday School "stands up for righteousness" by calling out other's sin on facebook, that's her choice, but our mission should speak louder than her status updates. Our resolve should be greater than any religious trend. Please, hear this: If love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self control are not apart of your mission - It's a civilian affair. Don't get mixed up in it! I don't care if you look silly - God gave us our commands a long time ago. Carry on with that mission until you hear from Him.
Go read the words of your Commanding Officer again in Matthew 22:36-39. It is your mission, if you choose to accept it.
A few weeks ago my husband and I were enjoying a rarity in our home: A night alone, together. And like introverted nerds we are, this means we stayed in, ate leftovers and watched the History channel. There is this delightful program called I Love The 1800's. The show sorta highlights bizarre stories throughout history, and this particular episode featured military stories. I was moved by the story of 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda who was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines in 1944 to foil the enemies attacks or advancement. He tried to take the mountains and lost a few soldiers along the way, yet his resolve and his mission did not weary. He fought the fight for 30 years.
That's 29 years after the war actually ended.
Search teams had been sent out to find and inform the Lieutenant of the wars conclusion and end, but even when planes flew over the jungle dropping flyers and news articles, Onoda did not back down from his original mission. Onoda would not give up, he would not surrender, not until he heard from his commanding officer.
In 1974 the Japanese government located Onoda's superior officer, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who finally fulfilled his promise of, "Whatever happens, we'll will come back for you." Onoda was then relieved from his duty and he finally returned home. His 30 year war ended and his guerrilla tactics and attacks were pardoned by President Ferdinand Marcos.
Friends, what would the church look like if we quit getting involved in the hype and drama of whatever is in and now and actually followed through with our original mission? What if we quit listening to the people saying our fight is over, or to "take it easy" and we showed more mercy, more love, more compassion to everyone? What if we continued to fight the good fight until we heard from our Commanding officer?
I will tell you one thing, this chintzy "American dream" faith that modern Christianity abounds in, would not be here. Our churches would be united and our resolve would be absolute. Our bickering would cease and the real battles would be fought efficiently.
Believers, it's time we listen to what we were told to do and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Don't throw a fit because someone wished you a "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." It doesn't matter that Brother Burden doesn't allow Halloween in his home anymore, or that you do. These things have nothing to do with Gospel. Sure it might be your conviction, but your convictions are not replacements for our Command. You were not commanded to watch the "Know Your Enemy" series on Youtube. I mean you can, but the point is if you don't follow through with the original command your battle, your fight is useless.
Friends, if Sally Sunday School "stands up for righteousness" by calling out other's sin on facebook, that's her choice, but our mission should speak louder than her status updates. Our resolve should be greater than any religious trend. Please, hear this: If love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self control are not apart of your mission - It's a civilian affair. Don't get mixed up in it! I don't care if you look silly - God gave us our commands a long time ago. Carry on with that mission until you hear from Him.
1 comments:
Hannah, thank you so much for this Godly insight! I find myself chuckling at the puns; and mostly because they are so true! "It's a civilian affair"-I think that's my new motto. :) Christians have been derailed by Satan from our original mission into petty in-fighting and holier-than-thou chips on our shoulders. To use a nerdy reference from a recent gathering; it seems like the "one ring" needs to be thrown back into Mount Doom before it destroys us all!
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