No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD
~ Isaiah 54:17 NIV
One of the saddest times in recent history is the Holocaust. Since the beginning of creation Satan has attacked God's people thinking he could win. When God provided the first sacrifice He not only showed Adam and Eve there is forgiveness of sin through the coming of His Son but He told Satan he would be defeated by His Son. So all through history Satan has dreamed up plans to stop the coming of the Messiah Jesus. When Jesus was crucified Satan thought he had won until Jesus came forth from the grave, alive again forever more. So what is Satan trying to do now?
Satan knows one day he will find himself eternally in the bottomless pit, not in control but in eternal punishment of hellfire. His last ditch effort is to destroy God's people, the Jews. Psalms tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Peace is not an absence of war. It's not happiness gained with money. No one can have peace without salvation that gives a peace past finding out. In other words you can't understand the peace God gives without knowing Him in a personal relationship. Scripture says before the great and terrible day of the Lord Israel will come to know their Messiah (Zechariah 12). So we see over and over in history how Satan tried to destroy the Jews.
In the 1930's a man named Julius Streicher began publishing a newspaper Der Strumer (The Attacker). It was propoganda against the Jews. He also published a children's book, Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom). It too was propaganda to turn the children against their Jewish schoolmates and neighbors. He was vehemently anti-Semetic, so much so that after the World War II he was charged with war crimes. He was convicted and sentenced to death. A gallows was built. As he was led to the gallows to be hung he said, "Purim 1946".
Purim the day the Jews were to be destroyed by Haman. Esther had intervened for God and her people. Now there is the feast of Purim to celebrate the saving of the Jews from destruction.
It seems strange that someone who knew the scripture well enough to know he was a modern day Haman would be willing to be used in such a horrific way. In our times many in government are trying to destroy our faith. They are trying to silence us just as Haman and Streicher tried to do. But as Esther and others stood firm in the face of death, we too must stand firm in proclaiming the gospel even if it comes to death. Satan cannot prevail against Christ and his church.
on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
~Matthew 16:18 ESV
Father, we know you are a good and perfect God. Though we may go through trials and may even face death, you have promised us a place of eternal peace. A place of no more dying, no more tears, no more pain. Father God, help us look to you for strength in our times of need. May we rejoice in your salvation. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Hey Kids:
Do others make fun of you when you don't go along with their sinful actions?
Are you asked to read books that are against scripture?
These things are happening in many public schools across our country. How can you stand against these things? First and foremost you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
- There has to be a time and a place where you know you are a sinner, you have done wrong things, like telling a lie, disobeying parents, taking something that doesn't belong to you.
- There has to be a time and a place where you ask Jesus to forgive you and save you.
- There has to be a change in your life, the way you live and behave that is different than the way you were. It doesn't mean you will never sin again but it does mean that when you sin you will feel sorry and ask God's forgiveness so that you stay in the right fellowship with Him.
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