The message must get through

The Urgent Message

The War Is Finished, But Some Are Still Fighting

Today is Remembrance Day, celebrated in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA and other places around the world. The Armistice was signed, apparently, at 5.30am on November 11th 2018, so as to give time for the message to reach the various fronts for a ceasefire at 11am.

But the message did not reach all parts by 11am, and fighting continued in some places. There was one officer who was determined to continue, not happy with the armistice. Apparently 11,000 people died on November 11th 1918.[1]

The message didn’t get through

Losing a young soldier (for they were all young) during the conflict was tragedy enough, but to learn they had been lost because the message had not got through, or the message had been ignored would add so much more pain and devastation to the tragedy. It didn’t need to happen.

Today, we live in what is termed the dispensation of Grace. The time after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, victorious over sin and death.

Go into all the world, Jesus told us, and tell the good news of salvation. Those who believe will be saved.[2]

A new era – a different message

Life, peace, joy, healing, reconciliation, restoration, kindness, goodness, gentleness are all now freely available to all who hear and believe in the message of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it strange, we live in a world where some officers (people of influence and authority) don’t like the idea of the armistice and will not cooperate with the ceasefire. In other cases, the message is being deliberately withheld. And the fighting continues, life and peace is denied.

Everyone needs to know the war is won

As writers, we are influencers. When we write whether it be fiction of non-fiction, we embody a message. Sometimes it is subtle, sometimes it is blatant, but it is there. Let’s pray to our Father, the author of our creativity, that we find a way to get that message through the lines that people will know, the war is over. There is peace, life and time to restore and heal.

Lest we forget.

We will remember them.

[1] https://history.blog.gov.uk/2018/11/09/the-war-that-did-not-end-at-11am-on-11-november/

[2] Mark 16:15

Author

  • Meredith Resce @MeredithResce

    South Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and published non-fiction and Christian fiction, including period drama romance, contemporary romance, time-travel adventure, crime drama (under pen name EB James) and murder mystery. Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth. With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983. Meredith and Nick have three adult children, one daughter and two sons.

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Published by Meredith Resce @MeredithResce

South Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and published non-fiction and Christian fiction, including period drama romance, contemporary romance, time-travel adventure, crime drama (under pen name EB James) and murder mystery. Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth. With her husband, Nick, Meredith has worked in Christian ministry since 1983. Meredith and Nick have three adult children, one daughter and two sons.

2 replies on “The message must get through”

  1. Although my daughter wrote this about Gallipoli is as apt for the Western Front.
    Gallipoli

    The dread returned as I awoke to Simon’s shaking hand
    My best mate looked petrified with vomit on his chin
    The eerie strangeness of the shadowed shores of this new land
    The soldiers faces shining in the morning light so dim.

    The first step was the hardest, on that freezing April morning.
    Silently approaching with my gun prepared to fire
    One long glance to the sunrise as the gorgeous day was dawning
    The irony and beauty of the dew drops on the barbed wire.

    Down inside the trenches, we all heard some hateful voices
    Speaking in a different language, so we all looked round
    Michaels thought he’d have a look, then we heard those noises
    Shocked, we watched as Michaels fell, lifeless to the ground.

    We all were bloody petrified and someone made a mess
    When the General asked us if we’d die to keep our country free
    My forehead sweaty, me and many others shouted YES.
    Saluting us, the General held up fingers, one… two… three…

    We climbed the trench, slow motion and my heart was going mad
    Clods of dirt were breaking off and falling to my friends
    I told myself I’d make it home and one day be a dad,
    I looked as Simon, he winked as me “See ya when it ends”

    The last thing I remember is we made it to the top
    Running on to no man’s land through bullet-riddled air
    Almost at the midfield something in me made me stop
    Bullets shattered through my legs and sent me through the air.

    Simon ran to help, but before he came to get me
    Saw another, bleeding badly, just about to faint.
    Threw him on his shoulders, picked me up too and carried gently
    Two highly grateful soldiers being rescued by a saint.

    He put me down, he squeezed my hand, he took my gun and ran
    I screamed his name, he yelled “I’ve got my country to defend”
    He climbed that wall as fast as any human being can
    I cried ‘cause I knew I would never see my mate again.

    I looked down at my missing legs, my heart is filled with pain.
    Fighting for a country with no hope of victory yet…
    Now Ninety years later, heroes like Simon did not die in vain.
    They died to save our country. Lest We Forget!

    by Suzannah Powter 2008 aged 16

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