C A R L B. G A R N E R

THE BITTER TASTE OF DEFEAT

Victory At Sea, an NBC television production of 1952, is a classic review of World War II and the United States Navy's victory in the Pacific. Even though it is over 40 years old, it is still watched by millions every year. The final episode is a familiar story for thousands of soldiers and sailors. After years of fighting, loneliness and danger, the survivors went home. The joyous scenes shown were of wives, parents and children welcoming their loved ones with kisses, hugs and tears of relief. Some of the most touching photos ever taken were of these beautiful, happy moments.

But this was not a happy occasion for everyone seen in this program. The scenes of Americans going ashore, planting the Stars and Stripes on Japanese soil, then administering the surrender papers on the Battleship Missouri were not joyous to the citizens of Japan. As happy as were the Allied soldiers at the end of this tragic war, the defeated were tormented by the knowledge that the victory of their foe just made their own defeat more bitter. Anger, fear of reprisal, embarrassment and the realization of their own losses were seen in the eyes of those in the streets of the cities and on the ships where the truce was signed. It was easy to see the difference between victory and defeat. It was in the face of every person pictured.

As I watched, I wondered if there was remorse over the events that had initiated those hostilities. Did the Axis military leaders realize how much destruction and death resulted from their maneuverings? Did they ever consider that someday they might have to stand face to face with those they had incarcerated in the camps? Did those who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor contemplate the possibility of defeat? If they had considered the possibility of defeat, would their decisions and their lives have been different?

In Jeremiah's day, Israel refused to heed the warnings of the prophet, so when captivity did come, they were stunned. They had played the harlot to the idolatrous nations about them, and when the consequences of their actions came, Jeremiah told them, "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her," Lamentations 1:1-3. Later, in chapter 2:5, the prophet says "The Lord was as an enemy." In 2:15 the enemies were wagging their heads, asking, "Is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?" How sad it is when victory is turned to defeat.

Jesus dealt with a man in similar circumstances. In Luke 16:19-31 we read of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. In life on earth, the rich man had everything, while the poor beggar would have been happy to have been "fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table," Luke 16:21. However, the story did not end there. Because of his neglect, the rich man was in torment, while the poor man was in Abraham's bosom. The rich man, having known only prosperity and luxury before, now must live with defeat and torment. Did he not think of that possibility before? The Bible makes it clear that when our life ends, there will be no more opportunity to put our lives back in order.

As we face this year, how much wiser we would be if we made our decisions with the realization that eternal victory or defeat are at stake.
€ When you look at your relationship with God; does it begin by putting Him and His Kingdom first? Or do you think of self and pleasure first? Those kinds of thoughts will not lead to victory, but eternal destruction, Matthew 25:46. How empty those priorities will be then.
€ When you consider your home and family life; is your relationship with your spouse and children as God has instructed? Or have you chosen to follow the world and its ways?
€ When you evaluate your prayer and study time, your worship and giving; do you put television, fishing or golf before God? Do you, like Israel of old, also play the harlot spiritually, giving yourself to things contrary to God's Word, James 4:4?
€ When you see the poor, do you act, think and live like the rich man of Luke 16? Or do you practice "pure religion," James 1:27? He regretted his selfishness, but it was too late to make amends. What will you do?
€ When you hear the tender pleading of the Gospel, do you think more of yourself than the Christ who died for you, and the loved ones who pray that you will give yourself to Christ?

Some day, like those who planned that tragic war almost 60 years ago, many of us will evaluate the outcome of our lives as they did theirs. What will we see? Remorse over lost time and opportunities? Or joy because of God's promise of eternal life.

Moses' words in Deuteronomy 32:29 make sense today: "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" If we would consider the "latter end" of our choices, we would not hesitate a moment in choosing to live for Christ. Then we would give our talent and all that we have to bring others to Him also. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Corinthians 15:57. Don't let anyone rob you of your victory.