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

THE FIGHTING SULLIVANS

One of the most remarkable stories to come out of World War II centered around the five sons of the Thomas Sullivan family of Waterloo, Iowa. They were typical brothers, fiercely fighting each other, but also defending each other when outsiders threatened. They enlisted in the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor, but only on the condition that they be allowed to serve together on the same ship. Months later, off the island of Guadalcanal, the Cruiser U.S.S. Juneau took several direct hits and eventually sank with all five brothers aboard. It was the first time since the Civil War that one family had lost five sons in the same war.

It was not the first time, however, that men died on behalf of a cause that was greater than they. George, Frank, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan died for a cause they and others considered vital. But there was another Father who gave His "only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John 3:16. The Jews learned the principle of vicarious sacrifice by way of those sacrifices demanded in the law of Moses. Each year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered into the Most Holy Place to bring about atonement for their sins for another year. It was a special day, but everyone knew it would have to be repeated the next year,"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins," Hebrews 10:4.

While the blood of animals could not take away sin on a permanent basis, they learned that the sacrifice of a lamb could propitiate, or satisfy, the justice of Jehovah. But the repetitive offering of that sacrifice made them long for a sacrifice that could be made once for all sins and for all time. What kind of sacrifice could do such a thing? Israel was commanded to offer only their best lamb as their sacrifice, but that was not enough to satisfy God's sense of true justice. There had to be a sacrifice priceless enough, perfect enough, and precious enough for God to accept as atonement or reparation for man's sin. There was only one sacrifice that would suffice, and that was the "only begotten Son" of God, Jesus the Christ. How could a father give up five of his sons for any cause, righteous or not? How could a mother, having given birth to all five sons, give her consent to their enlistment in a war that threatened to take all five of them? Of course, it was a great sacrifice on their part, even though they loved their sons. They did not want to lose their sons, even though the cause was just in their eyes. But they did, and the death of those sons was mourned by an entire nation of people grateful for their sacrifice.

On the other hand, Jehovah gave up His "only" Son, the "Son of His love," Colossians 1:13. We can understand some of the emotion that moved the Sullivan boys' father to allow them to enlist. But what of the emotion that led to God's sending of His Son to this earth as a sacrifice for man and his sin? How could any father give up his son for men who scorned him? How could any father give his son for men who would not only reject that son, but would hang him on a tree? We have difficulty comprehending such a gift, but God gave it anyway. The apostle John said it this way: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins," 1 John 4:10. We did not deserve it. We could not earn it. We were and are not worthy of it. But it is ours because of God's mercy, love and grace. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:7-8.

That such love has been expressed for us is clear in the scriptures. But how we respond to that love is just as important. How can we do so?
1. By diligent search of the revelation of the mind of God, the Bible. It will not only tell us of Jehovah's love for us, but of our proper response.
2. By then giving heed to that Book, which provides insight into the mind of God. Our lives and our examples should be a daily expression of our abounding gratitude for that gracious and unequaled gift. There should never be a doubt in the minds of others that we love God.
Jesus, who gave His life, "a ransom for all," 1 Timothy 2:6, became that perfect, "once for all time" sacrifice, Hebrews 7:26-27, 9:11-15. And He became the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him," Hebrews 5:9. 3. By telling others of His love for all. Many live their lives without knowing that God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:8-9. Why should any be unaware of God's love when we all know of it and are capable of telling others of it? Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned," Mark 16:15-16. How can we know of His great love for us, yet keep the knowledge of that love from others?

The Sullivans gave their sons for a cause they considered worthy. They suffered untold grief as a result of that gift. Would you, like Jehovah, be willing to give your only son for others like you? Here we see a small glimpse of the majestic love of God!