When It's Over It's Over

I think you'll agree with me that 30 years is a long time. It's especially a long time when you're under the constant threat of attack. In 1944, during WWII, a Japanese soldier by the name of Hiroo Onoda was sent to a small island named Lubang in the Philippines. He was ordered to do all that he could to hamper enemy attacks on the island, including destroying the airstrip and the pier at the harbor. His orders also stated that under no circumstances was he to surrender or take his own life. He faithfully stayed at his post, continuing his guerilla type warfare until 1974. That's right 1974.

Now wait a minute, I thought the war in the Pacific was over in 1945? And you would be right, but it seems that Hiroo never got the message or refused to believe it. On 20 February 1974, Onoda met a Japanese college dropout, Norio Suzuki, who was traveling the world and was looking for "Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the Abominable Snowman in that order". Suzuki explained to him that the war had ended, but Onoda still refused to surrender saying that he was waiting for orders from a superior officer. That came when the Japanese government located Onoda's commanding officer, who had since become a bookseller, and had him flown him to Lubang Island and ordered Onoda to lay down his arms. Now that's what I call dedication, diligence and dumbness.

I wonder how many of us are still fighting a war that has been won almost two Centuries ago? This weekend we will be celebrating the greatest event in human history: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! One of the last words spoken by Him was this: "It is finished". He wasn't just talking about His own life or the future of His ministry on earth, but the battle over the power of hell, sin, death and the grave. That also includes guilt, fear, doubt, regret, remorse, and sin.

The battle is really over. This is no joke. This is reality. Really. Just sayin'....