Seventy Years Ago Today
Seventy years ago this morning, as I am writing this, the United States was thrust into world power status via a surprise attack that almost devastated her Navy. It was a horrible day. Thousands lost their lives. Many thousands more lost their loved ones. With untold millions of dollars worth of equipment, buildings, ships and airplanes destroyed, especially at the tail end of The Great Depression, the attacking nation had hoped the US military would be relegated to a minor threat to their expansion plans.
Instead, America emerged as a world power.
I know that there are crazy web sites out their propagandizing loony conspiracy theory claims that Roosevelt knew the attack was coming and kept it quiet in order to get us into the war. But the truth is, it was a complete and total surprise. Should we have known? Maybe. Were there indicators? Some. But let’s give these intelligence collectors some space. It’s not easy sifting through, filtering and categorizing reports in such a way that a pattern emerges clear enough to predict what an enemy might be doing. This was a surprise attack. It was somewhat successful. But in the end, it brought about Japan’s (and Germany’s) downfall. It energized America’s resolve for self-preservation and justice. The entire nation came together and soundly defeated evil attempts at world domination.
Before Pearl Harbor, we were a militarily isolated and economically depressed nation. Four years later, we emerged as the strongest and wealthiest nation on the planet, by far. For decades to come, the world looked to the United States for protection and economic leadership.
Surprise attacks are inevitable. By saying that, you would think they would not be surprises. But they are. We know they are out there and that attacks will come, but we never know when, where or how. Since they always occur when we “least expect it”, you’d think during those times we expect it least, we would be on guard. But then, that wouldn’t be a time we would least expect it anymore.
Surprise attacks against us spiritually are also inevitable. Peter warned us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV). So while we do not know just when, where, and exactly how, we can be prepared. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, The Apostle Paul reminds the readers that we are aware of the schemes of the devil, and he warns them to therefore not be “outwitted” by him. In Ephesians 6, he tells us how we can be prepared, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11 ESV). He then went on to describe that armor, as being our assurance of salvation, knowing and using God’s Word, growing in faith, staying mindful of what is true and resisting lies, sharing the Gospel with others, and with it all, praying constantly. In doing so, surprise attacks will still come, but they need not blindside us. We know Satan is out there, and we can be more than adequately prepared for inevitable war, if we are walking with God!
Just like the end result of Pearl Harbor, those attacks from Satan can ultimately lead to our greatest victories and strengthen us as the citizens of heaven. Maybe that’s why James said, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various [temptations]” (James 1:2 HCSB).