LESSONS FROM THE WAR
Who Packs Your Parachute?
Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface~to~air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!” “How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb. “I packed your parachute” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said “Good morning, how are you”? Or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor.” Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, “Who’s packing your parachute:”
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory ~ he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year recognize people who pack your parachute.
(This story was kindly forwarded to me by a friend via e~mail).
1. Introduction:
Before we begin to look at this message I want to reassure you that we are not going to discuss whether the war in Iraq is right or not. We all hold different views on this particular matter and I want to say that’s O.K. You know, I once asked God how could Christians hold such opposing views, and both be right! The only answer I seemed to receive was that because we did hold different opinions heartfelt prayer could be offered from both viewpoints. Perhaps God has all the bases covered!
2. Can We Learn Anything?
So what I want to do is to see if we can learn any lessons from the war.
High Tech
I think this war had some unique features highlighting the instant high tech world we live in today. Because of modern technology and communications we could see what was happening live from our armchairs. Its almost as if we were actually there on the frontline, flinching from the bullets and jumping to take cover from the bombs. I will never forget the tension I felt watching the Iraqi forces looking for missing airmen in the reeds on the Tigris River. I felt so frightened that they would be captured, praying earnestly that they would not be found. I was there ~ almost.
Slower Pace
You know it must have been so different years ago. Life in general went at a much slower pace than today, including wars. News of loved ones took months to arrive, if ever. Battle campaigns were often long drawn out events. For example, it usually took months to besiege a city and wait patiently until either the inhabitants surrendered or starved to death.
Perhaps there was a stricter embargo on what news could actually be reported ~ now we can see everything, with the cameras following the action closely, maybe too close for comfort.
Speeded up
Everything, included war has speeded up in our generation. It can leave you breathless, disorientated. It seems to me that we can so easily become anxious and troubled at events happening around us. It all seems to happen too quickly. It can easily seem everything is out of control.
Let’s Learn Our First Lesson
There are going to be wars. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:6 that “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars”. Yet He told us “but see to it that you are not alarmed”. Why? Because Jesus is in overall control. As my nephew Jack said to his Mum, “You’re not in charge here ~ Jesus is”! You can’t argue with his theology! Maybe we too need to remember that Jesus is in charge ~ always.
3. Expect Opposition ~ In Fact You Can Count On It!
It wasn’t too long into the war before armchair experts furiously attacked the Battle Plans. I hadn’t realised quite how may retired Military Generals there were! This I am afraid is another lesson we have to learn in our Christian walk. When we step out the enemy will seek to stop us in our tracks using whatever methods he can. When God calls us out to follow Him in new directions expect opposition ~ in fact you can count on it!
Friendly Fire ~ Take Cover!
Sadly in the early battles of the war in Iraq there were as many casualties from friendly fire as from the actual enemy. Even though vehicles were clearly marked and every precaution was taken to avoid friendly fire it was a real problem. These incidents seemed to cause the most distress to troops and affect morale.
Is it any different for Christians? Some of the worse attacks you can receive are friendly fire from brothers and sisters in Christ. I think the only lesson we can learn is that it can and will happen. Especially when you step out for God. Just be faithful, humble and obedient. Leave your reputation, ministry and defence to Jesus. He can be trusted to take care of it for you.
4. Baghdad Bob ~ Enemy Lies!
Well talk about the Ministry of Misinformation! Who can forget that unbelievable denial of American troops advancing into Baghdad by the Minister of Information? With American tanks in the background Baghdad Bob live on camera denied it was even happening! Asked if he was scared he memorably told reporters “No and you don’t be either”! On another occasion it was spotted that the pieces of paper he was supposedly reading from on one particular broadcast appeared to be blank pieces of paper!
Apparently a lot of Arabs watching the reports actually believed what they were being told by the Iraqi regime. It may be the reason they were so shocked at the results of the war campaign. They actually swallowed those lies. Sadly we can too. We have to learn our enemy is adept at misinformation too. “he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44) Jesus warned. We need the armour of God to resist him, namely the belt of truth. He loves to sow seeds of fear, mistrust and will gladly use complete and utter lies to get us out of a close trusting relationship with our Heavenly Father. Submit to God and resist the enemy. He will flee from you. He has no choice. (See James 4:7).
5. Keeping the Supply Lines Going
Once the American troops advanced quickly into Iraq there were problems with maintaining supply lines to the troops. They soon became hundreds of miles away from their original base camps, and supply lines quickly became exposed to enemy attack.
Our brothers and sisters on the front lines can similarly become cut off from their supply lines. We need to do all we can to ensure prayer and financial support is getting through to those out on the mission field. They need our help and support to protect them from exposure and enemy attack. Stand with them, and remember those who stay behind get to share the spoils! “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All shall share alike” (1 Samuel 30:24).
6. Set the Captives Free
Who can forget the rescue of Jessica Lynch? Thanks to an Iraqi man who was so touched with compassion when seeing this badly wounded American soldier being slapped around by Iraqi militia, he had to go and tell someone who could help her. The scenes of her eventual rescue and being airlifted on a stretcher out of enemy hands were actually recorded on camera.
Don’t we have our “Jessica’s”? The enemy has them captive, often hurting and treating them so badly. These dear loved ones are trapped, unable to do anything to help themselves. Let’s go and tell Jesus, instigating heavenly rescue operations with the powerful weapons of prayer. Let’s see our lost lambs being carried home to safety in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd. Let’s not leave our “Jessica’s” in enemy hands without speaking to the One Who is able to bind the strongman and go in and plunder his house. For the Lord promises in Isaiah 49:25 “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save”. Amen!
7. Are You On The Winning Side ~ The Gospel?
If there is only one lesson you can learn from this message, then please let it be this one. There are two kingdoms in this world ~ but you can only be on one side. Be on the winning side! I urge you to make a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. God will rescue you from the dominion of darkness and bring you into the kingdom of the Son He loves (See Colossians 1:13).
Please don’t put off or delay making a decision to follow Jesus until another time. God says in His word “I tell you, now it the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
8: Conclusion ~ We Are At War!
I can’t help but wonder sometimes if we realise we are engaged in war albeit a Heavenly one! Our journey is not on a luxury cruise ship to be sure! We so often seem to be taken by surprise when we come under constant attack with the enemy taking shots at us from every angle. Lets get that armour on so specifically described in Ephesians 6:10 ~ 18 because believe me we need it.
You know only General Franks and senior personnel knew the complete battle plan. But each soldier had his part to play. It’s the same for you and me. We don’t know all the battle plans and details. But I can tell you this: take up your Bible and turn to Revelation Chapters 19 to 22. I know Who wins! Yes Jesus! For He alone is worthy. Hallelujah!
