Yes, Sir!

Two buddies were out and about running around in a hot rod pick-up, on some unfamiliar country back roads, when they came upon a sign that read, “Road Closed – Bridge Out!” Stopped along side the road they discussed weather they should go forward and to possibly ford the stream or whatever when they came to the bridge problem, or to turn around and go another way. Because they saw fresh tire tracks in the dirt road ahead they reasoned the sign was old and forgotten about after the bridge repairs and should have been taken down long ago. So they decided to go forward with their trip. Rounding a sharp curve in the road the driver of the speeding truck suddenly slammed on the brakes causing the truck to slide to a stop just short of diving off into a deep ravine. Sure enough there was no bridge. The two looked at each other knowing they had just averted certain death. Returning to where the warning sign was posted they noticed on the reverse side another sign that read, “Close Wasn’t It?”

Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier, continued to carry out orders given to him by his commanding officer upon landing on Lubang Island in the Philippines, December 26th 1944, until his surrender on March 10th 1975. Why did he continue fighting World War II for 29 years after Japan surrendered? Because he didn’t know? That was very unlikely because Allied troops and islanders alike knew of the presence of Japanese soldiers in the jungle and both had distributed fliers throughout the island jungle by land and by air informing the soldiers the war was over. All but Onoda had eventually succumbed to the harsh jungle life or believed the fliers and surrendered. Onoda believed the fliers to be propaganda lies and refused to surrender. Over the years he became a danger to the populous, shooting at uniformed people, killing soldiers of Filipino army patrols and stealing food from farmers. In 1974 a college student found Onoda and tried to convince him to leave the jungle and return to Japan. He refused saying he would not leave unless he heard from his commanding officer, personally resending his previous orders. The college student would not tell of Onoda’s location but did find and arrange for Onoda’s commanding officer to meet Onoda and give him new orders. Upon hearing from his commanding officer Onoda couldn’t believe Japan had lost the war but was obedient to his new orders. Dressed in full uniform he marched out of the jungle and surrendered his sward to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Onoda was pardoned of his crimes because he thought he was still at war.

[Matthew 28:18-20] There’s a sign post up ahead, “Man is Destined to Die Once – Then to Face Judgment!” (Romans 9:27). The world is cruising on down the road to forever at break-neck speed with death staring each and every one of us straight in the eye. I guess you do know there are no brakes on the death of the body, which means we’re all going to slide right into eternity head first. Do you know we’re at war? We fight every day to survive being a righteous person (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus, our commanding officer, has left orders to “…make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” As unpopular as that may be, are you obeying orders? Are you carrying out those commands until your commanding officer returns? Who has the right to change those orders? Jesus’ order, is God’s Word.