Name: Linda
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Search My Heart, O God
For the Fall Reading challenge I have read through “The Zion Chronicles” by Bodie Thoene and am now on the third book of “The Zion Covenant” series. During the entire time I’ve been reading about the events leading up to and following World War II, I find myself asking the question: “What would I have done?” Even my verse in my “Snippets” challenged me today. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts." Ps. 139:23
If I had lived in Germany during the years before World War II, as a Christian I would have had to make a choice. Would I choose to follow Christ or would I pledge my allegiance to the Nazi Party? It would have been a life-changing choice. If I remained faithful, I would meet the same fate as the Jewish people. If I had spoken out against the evil being perpetrated on a whole race of people, I would have been putting my life at risk. If I had raged against the policies that took the lives of those who were deemed undesirable, I would have been put into prison, at the very least. If I helped those who were condemned under Nazi policies, I would have risked being sent to one of the camps with them.
What would I have done?
Would I have somehow rationalized that I could just sign the pledge but in my heart still hold to my faith? After all, I would be putting my whole family in jeopardy if I refused. They punished the whole family if one person was caught breaking the rules. Or would I have had the faith, the grace, the strength, the courage to do what was right?
The questions haunt me. We have things so easy here. Oh – we get upset (and rightfully so) over the way things seem to be going in this country, but we still have the freedom to express those feelings without fear of retribution.
Then I think of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith right now. What of them? I have been convicted lately that the very least I can do is pray for them. Some of them are suffering in ways I cannot even imagine.
I haven’t been able to get the question out of my head. I want to believe I would have done the right thing. I pray I would have. I have deep admiration for those who did. I feel as though I need to answer these questions in my heart without any wavering or doubt because the day may come when I will have to make a choice. Let me say without hesitation, “I choose You Lord.”
Blessings,
Linda
If I had lived in Germany during the years before World War II, as a Christian I would have had to make a choice. Would I choose to follow Christ or would I pledge my allegiance to the Nazi Party? It would have been a life-changing choice. If I remained faithful, I would meet the same fate as the Jewish people. If I had spoken out against the evil being perpetrated on a whole race of people, I would have been putting my life at risk. If I had raged against the policies that took the lives of those who were deemed undesirable, I would have been put into prison, at the very least. If I helped those who were condemned under Nazi policies, I would have risked being sent to one of the camps with them.
What would I have done?
Would I have somehow rationalized that I could just sign the pledge but in my heart still hold to my faith? After all, I would be putting my whole family in jeopardy if I refused. They punished the whole family if one person was caught breaking the rules. Or would I have had the faith, the grace, the strength, the courage to do what was right?
The questions haunt me. We have things so easy here. Oh – we get upset (and rightfully so) over the way things seem to be going in this country, but we still have the freedom to express those feelings without fear of retribution.
Then I think of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith right now. What of them? I have been convicted lately that the very least I can do is pray for them. Some of them are suffering in ways I cannot even imagine.
I haven’t been able to get the question out of my head. I want to believe I would have done the right thing. I pray I would have. I have deep admiration for those who did. I feel as though I need to answer these questions in my heart without any wavering or doubt because the day may come when I will have to make a choice. Let me say without hesitation, “I choose You Lord.”
Blessings,
Linda
5 Comments:
There are a lot of things we often wonder what we would do if it happened to us...I really think we can't answer that question until it's actually happening. Only then would we know.
That's a hard question to answer. I hope I would choose the right thing without a moment's hesitation.
I have read both of those series and often wondered about myself as well. Those are fabulous books, written from the heart.
Hindsight is always better than foresight. Knowing the hideous outcome of the Jewish people, and how horrible Hitler was, I would hope to God I would do the right thing. Least I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
Very good question but I really don't know what I would have done?
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