For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:4
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history in Normandy, France, to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the massive assault involved nearly 160,000 troops, 7,000 naval vessels, and 12,000 aircraft. Fifteen nations were involved in the Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France (Free French forces), Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe/Zambia, then under British administration), Luxembourg, and the Dutch). All of them were determined to bring about the liberation of Europe from the claws of Tyranny brought about by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. By the end of the day, over 10,000 Allied troops would become casualties. But a foothold would be gained, bringing about the inevitable downfall of Fascist control over Europe.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a special prayer over the invasion, and the following is a quotation from it: “Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.”
What was accomplished that day from a generation that has all but departed our midst was righteous in its nature. The men who embarked on the sands of beaches, jumped into the dark skies, did so out of a desire to free others from the oppression of dictatorship and persecution. It was a selfless act rarely seen in human history.
Our cause as Christians is no less important in today’s world. We serve a Savior who selflessly gave of Himself that we might be freed from the tyranny of sin and the oppression of Evil. He stormed the gates of hell and defeated the ultimate dictator of death, ensuring freedom and liberation for all of us. Our task now, as followers of Jesus Christ, is to share with others the same commitment to the liberation of oppressed peoples that Christ shared with us. We must be willing to storm into the dark and dangerous places of our world, our communities, and our families, with a determined desire to share the love of Christ as a beacon in the darkness.
The great generation that stormed the beaches of Normandy secured a momentary peace over the peoples of Europe. But the Savior of the world has secured everlasting peace for those who accept him and follow him. We must continue to be the Allied forces of Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, the Church of Christ, Catholics, Presbyterians, and Non-Denominational Churches who fight the good fight of faith and continue the race of proclaiming the liberating truth found in the Gospel and the Divinity of Jesus Christ!
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Pastor Mike McVey
Minister – First United Methodist Church, Fairfield, TX
ACS Chaplain – United States Coast Guard, Station Galveston, TX
Cell: 919-935-2513
Email: pastormike@fumcfairfield.org
“Therefore, go and 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
“Semper Paratus” – Always Ready
