In the movie series, "Band of Brothers", episode 9 is entitled "Why We Fight." This series follows Easy Company, a group of young men who served our country during WWII in a remarkable way. "Why We Fight" is the title used to explain the discovery of a concentration camp in Germany, filled with hundreds of dead Jews and many more who were near death. Until that moment, though near the end of the war, the soldiers did not know of the existence of such camps. For the first time, late in the battle, they realized what they were fighting for.
Sometimes preachers find out late in the game, facts that prove the purpose of their preaching. I was given some such information this evening.
About 8 years ago, while in Lawrenceburg, TN, preaching for the Pulaski St. church, I came upon a family in need of benevolence. A single mother had just given birth to twins. She had two children already, a girl, age 8, and a boy age 6. They were very poor. The mother had these children by different men. She was working all the time and the children just needed care.
Along with what the church could do to help them with some bills and food, I asked the mother if I could take the older children to services every Sunday. She agreed to Sunday mornings, including Bible class. So we made extra room in the van and we began to bring these children to worship. They were like adopted kids to us. They sat with us every service. Over a 6 month period we also brought them to VBS. I found out that their grandmother was a member of the church, and although she was estranged from the mother (her daughter-in-law), sometimes the kids were able to come to worship with her also. As time went on, bad choices by their mother eventually led them away from us. The kids wanted to know Christ, but the mother continued to put obstacles in their way. I remember getting the two older children a Bible with their names engraved on it. I inscribed Proverbs 3:5-6 on the inside cover.
Years have passed and the children are now teenagers. I have wondered about them from time to time. I was sure that it was likely their lives were very troubled based on their situation. I was told tonight that the mother of these two kids and the twins continued to go through boyfriend after boyfriend. Her problems escalated, and I learned that she had told some false things about her oldest daughter, who is now 16. This child was placed in a facility run by the state. She was rejected by her own mother and now is doing what she can to make her way in life.
A lady my mother studies with happens to be a cousin to this young lady that has been institutionalized. She told my mom, that now that she is in this facility, her mainstay has been her Bible, the Bible she received from the church when she was 8. Some of the workers at the facility have testified of her kindness, and how she is using her Bible to reach other children in the facility. I don't understand why these things happen. I trust that the Lord knows these things, and I am certain He knows hearts. I pray for this young lady, and her brother, and every child who deserves a chance.
I am thankful to know that there is a reason why we preach. Most of the time we already know the reason. We preach because souls deserve to hear about the last best hope on earth. We preach because God loves people. We preach because there is nothing else better that we can do.
"Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." ~ Mark 9:37
