Sabbath Thought - Your Parachute

This Sabbath Thought was written by my former Pastor, Dan Dowd.  I share it with you as it was particularly inspiring to me.  I hope it is for you as well.  Joe

On June 6, 1944 the largest land invasion ever seen took place on the northern shores of France.  That invasion was given the military code name D-Day.  The Germans were expecting an Allied invasion, but they expected it to be further north in a less fortified position.  The allies knew this and even "leaked" communications that forces were going to land there.  Hitler committed troops and equipment to the region of Pas-De-Calais that ended leaving the Normandy region less defended.

Of the more than 156,000 Allied troops committed to this offensive, more than 13,000 were paratroopers.  The paratroopers were to land behind enemy lines and were to begin to take key German positions that would allow the Allied ground troops to make quick headway into German-held France.

One of the aircrafts carrying paratroopers had members of the 101st Airborne Division.  As they were flying toward France, Private Robert Hillman did a final inspection of this gear and parachute.  He is reported to have chuckled as he checked his parachute.  All of the men aboard were obviously nervous, so the chuckle caught everyone's attention.  A war correspondent named Wright Brown was on board as well, and he asked Hillman what was funny.  Hillman replied, "I know my parachute is going to work properly."  Brown asked Hillman how he could be so sure.  Hillman stated, "Because my mother's initials are on my chute!"

Hillman's mother worked at the Pioneer Parachute Company.  Many women worked the factories in the U.S. to help make needed things for the war effort.  The Pioneer Parachute Company made millions of parachutes used by all of the Allied forces.  The odds of one paratrooper using a parachute that his mother packed is infinitesimally small, but it was all the assurance Private Hillman needed.  Private Hillman survived the D-Day invasion to return home safely after the war ended.

We are in a much more important war - one not fought with guns, airplanes and parachutes (Ephesians 6:12).  In Ephesians 6 the apostle Paul is reminding us to not go into this battle without the proper armor.  For that armor to be effective it must be predicated on "the strength of His might" (verse 1).  We can have confidence, like Private Hillman had, that someone we trust is making our engagement in the fight a sure outcome.  We are assured in Hebrews 13:5 because God Himself has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

The word "leave" in that verse means to "let up, slacken, or desert".  The word "forsake" means to "leave behind".  The word "nor" means neither of these things will happen.  We have God's promise, that no matter what trial, no matter what difficulty, no matter what troubling circumstances we find ourselves dealing with, He will never desert us or leave us behind.  The faithful down through time have known this.  The apostle Paul knew this and stated it earlier in Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

God will complete His work in each of us (Philippians 1:6).  Our responsibility is to remain steadfast, immovable and always abounding in our calling so our effort will not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).  We can do this, because we know God has packed our parachute. 

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

Joe Greene 

Pastor for Richmond and Roanoke, VA