“A Date Which Will Live In Infamy”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

On December 7, 1941, the U.S. was bombed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In response to this act of war, something President Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy,” our nation assembled and united against a common enemy: an “axis of evil” in the Orient and in Europe. If the Lord wills, Saturday of this week will mark the 83^rd anniversary of that horrible day. We ought to remember and respect the sacrifices of so many who lived during those turbulent times and made it possible that we, now 83 years removed from those events, still live in freedom.

            Yes, it was an “infamous date” when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but is there not an “infamous date” that each person lives when we choose to serve Satan instead of God? You see, there is a day in everyone’s life (if we live long enough to make independent decisions) when we choose to follow Satan (Rom. 3:23). James wrote, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1:14-15). This has happened to each of us at some point in our lives.

            Whether or not we remember the date we first committed sin, we know God remembers it. That time is a “date which will live in infamy” in our lives. This is because, on that date, we yielded to temptation and succumbed to the onslaught of Satan. We joined ranks with the “kingdom of darkness” and died to God that day (Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19; I Pet. 2:9b; Col. 1:13).

            This date will “live in infamy” because those of us who have learned better realize that it is for this cause, our sin, that Christ came into the world (I Tim. 1:15). He who committed no sin (I Pet. 2:22) came to this world and offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice so that men might be saved (Matt. 20:25; Jn. 1:29; Lk. 19:10; II Cor. 5:14-15).

            What have we done in response? We turned from God, yielded to temptation, and sinned. From the first time we sinned, we were separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2). As we continued living in sin, we moved farther and farther away from God. Yes, the date we first sinned is a “date which will live in infamy” because, from that time forward, we were lost, undone, and lost the hope of Heaven (Eph. 2:12). We were taken captive by Satan and had no promise of eternal life with Christ. How tragic!

            Unlike WWII, which lasted only a relatively short amount of time (The U.S. was involved from 1941 to 1945), our war with Satan continues so long as this world stands! Satan has been fighting with God for the souls of men since Genesis 3 and will continue until the end of time. Therefore, we have to be ever-vigilant (I Pet. 5:8) and ready to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12).

            How can one fight against Satan? We begin by returning to Christ and receiving remission of our sins through faith in Him, repentance of sin, confession of our faith, and baptism (Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Rom. 10:10; Mk. 16:16). In becoming a Christian, we are no longer separated, but “reconciled” to God (II Cor. 5:17-18; Eph. 2:13), and in this relationship, we may “fight the good fight of faith,” wearing the “whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:13-18).

            Yes, there is a “date which will live in infamy” in all of our lives, but in Christ, the sin can be forgiven, and this date can become a distant memory when we are baptized and wear Christ’s name (Acts 22:16, 11:26). Have you done this?