By B. Michael Bigg
In a day and age of great turbulence, distress and war Irena Sendler took a stand (unlike many of her countrymen and fellow Roman Catholics):
There recently was a death of a 98 year- old lady named Irena. During WWII Irena got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive' ... She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger children)... She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the children’s noises... During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely… Irena kept a record of the names of all those she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her backyard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those children she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.
Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize ... She was not selected. Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming.
Irena Sendler sought to physically save as many children as she could … how do we compare on a Spiritual level? Today, when we look around at what is going on in the world, we see so much trouble. And unsurprisingly, it would not be difficult to become entirely sceptical and pessimistic. But therein lies a grave danger … for we must consider the Lord Jesus' statement,
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. - Matthew 24:9-13 (NKJV)
As times become more perilous, not only is there the requirement for us to remain diligent, alert and informed – being aware of the times and seasons – but we must also not allow the things that are happening, be they direct or indirect, to harden our hearts. We must remain willing to reach those who are in danger of perishing.
A not so uncommon quip these days, by atheists and secularists alike, is that religion is the source of the problem. When confronted in this way it is sometimes worth making the following observation (specifically about the West, such as England, Australia, America and the like):
One thing remains certain, as Christians we look forward to the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. And though we anticipate His return and our full redemption, let us also consider “Bernard McGinn's fascinating survey of all the candidates for the 'antichrist' that have been confidently put forward throughout church history demonstrates one fact unequivocally: to date, 100 percent of all attempts to correlate biblical prophecy with current events have been wrong!”
Throughout history, many have viewed their day and age as being the end of the end-times … and that is certainly true of our day. However, today we see so many technological and political changes that true world domination by one man, or one government is not only possible, but advocated by many as solution to the world's ills. Herein lies the difference between where we are today and past belief that “now” is the end of the end days. Nevertheless, the end of time is in the Father's keeping alone (Matthew 24:36), while our duty is to remain alert and aware so that that day won't come on us unawares (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
In all these things, let us keep, not only our first love (Revelation 2:4), but also a love of the brethren (1 John 3:14), and a love to see the unsaved saved. When the Lord returns may He find us doing that which He has given us to do (Matthew 24:46).
No matter how long the time seems, remember the Lord Jesus' words, “Surely I am coming quickly.” - (Revelation 22:20).
