Churchill’s unrelenting resolve
During the Second World War, Winston Churchill made a speech that would stand for all time. But, before we examine his speech, why did he make it?
Germany
Germany began attacking London on September 7, 1940. By January of the following year, over 13,000 Londoners were killed by the air attacks, but the death toll climbed as Germany also bombed other British cities. An estimated 1 million British homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and 40,000 civilians died in the bombings.
Rationing
Rationing began as early as September of 1939 with petroleum, followed in 1940 with the rationing of butter, sugar, bacon, and ham. Later, rationing included tea, jam, marmalade, cheese, eggs, and eventually, milk.
Milk rationing was two-to-three pints of milk each week. People were only permitted one to two eggs per week, 50g of tea, and not quite nine ounces of sugar. Even soap and laundry powder were rationed. By July of 1941, clothing was rationed.
The Workforce
Women became an integral part of the British workforce, as many took over the jobs men had previously held since the military needed men. [i]
The Blitz
Germany's bombings of British cities lasted from 1940 until 1941. Beginning September 7, 1940, Germany bombed Britain 56 of 57 days. Citizens spent their nights indoors with coverings over all their windows to complete a total blackout to obscure Germany’s ability to bomb specific targets.[ii]
June 1940
Suffering significant losses and witnessing the increasing power of Germany as they conquered country after country, thus gaining more and more industrial strength, Winston Churchill, the great orator, realized his country needed a rallying cry to inspire the citizens. Thus, one of Churchill’s greatest speeches came to live in the hearts of all free people.
While not covering the entire speech, the following are his concluding comments. Please read it carefully and slowly, keeping in mind the war and living conditions of the citizens of Great Britain.
"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."[iii]
Christ’s unrelenting resolve
While we do not live under the conditions of the British in the Second World War, we do live under the attack of our enemy, Satan. He is more relentless in his attacks than Nazi Germany, especially on those of us who are Christians. Even so, Satan attacks those outside the Church as he one-by-one lures them and us into the depths of his dark world.
Jesus told us we have a war on our hands, yet do any of us take that war seriously? No. But why? Because we fail to see and feel the effects of Satan's ferociousness. But Jesus felt the impact. Jesus went to the cross for us and suffered and died for us with unrelenting resolve. Jesus gave all He had to save you and me. And what do we do about it? We come and sit in a well-heated church building whose occupants, including me, operate more like a social club than His Church. But did Jesus die for a social club?
Our duty
If Jesus required that His Church, we Christians, operate like a military machine, we’d all be in a military prison because of our lack of resolve to win the war. Oh, wait, Jesus does require that of us. We are His army, and He will place us in that prison if we do not serve Him faithfully. He will send us to everlasting punishment – hell.
Every Sunday, but especially this month, we remember that Jesus died for us. In His death on the cross, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sinfulness. But He also arose from the dead to give us eternal life. The choice is ours. Where will you spend eternity? Jesus died for us, but we must love and obey Him to secure our place in heaven.
Do you love Him? Do you obey Him? Are you truly in the battle?
Please return to Winston Churchill's speech as written above and apply it to your need to fight for Christ. Are you willing to fight?
Love you,
Kenny
