The following letter published originally in the “Messager Evangelique” is given to show the grace and care of God over His own, even when they have placed themselves in positions contrary to His Word. No doubt many Christians who have gone into the war have used the scripture, “Be subject unto the higher powers” (Rom. 13:11Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)), but when subordinate authority tells us to do that which the Supreme authority tells us not to do, then we should be subject to the Supreme authority. “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:2929Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)).
When Peter used his sword, the Lord Jesus rebuked him, saying: “Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:5252Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)).
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)). We are heavenly citizens (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)) with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)) saved by grace (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)) and told to love our enemies (Matt. 5:4444But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)), resist not evil (Matt. 5:3939But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39)), suffer wrong (Rom. 12:1919Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)), and do good unto all (Gal. 6:1010As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)). All this is the opposite of killing our fellowmen, and those who do, know not what manner of spirit they are of (Luke 9:5555But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (Luke 9:55)).
But God is using the wrath of man to bring glory to His name. We hear of a great number of conversions on the battlefield—men turning to God and accepting Christ as their Saviour. And those who are the Lord’s, are learning what He is to them and for them in the time of their deep need.
Let us pray earnestly that many more may be brought to the Lord through this dreadful calamity.
Dear Brother:
If I speak of the four months of winter in the trenches, the sufferings gone through, the last terrible attacks, the furnace where God has seen good to place some of His well-beloved ones, it will be to tell of the, marvels of God’s grace, of His mercies renewed without ceasing, of His all-powerful protection. It will be to tell what, for the redeemed one, is the presence of his Saviour; of Him who will always be there, as formerly “the fourth like unto the Son of God,” with the three young Hebrews. Yes, by His grace I can say, as I praise Him, “He has indeed been all that He has promised to be! And how little I know Him—how little I did know Him! But in those terrible moments, in the midst of all sorts of dangers, in the frightful nights in the trenches, under the rain, in the liquid mud, without rest, Who but He could have helped me? I felt Him there, quite close. It was no longer for me a vague knowledge, a theory, of His person, but a presence blessed, well-proved. I needed to be brought to this; and alone, experiencing my absolute weakness, having no recourse in anyone else; in the depth of the trial it was my Saviour only whom I needed. Then, in the midst of the suffering, what precious moments were passed with Him, the faithful friend only too little known, whose love and heart so tender were better revealed to me. Dear Lord! He might have said to me: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?”
How many precious passages of the Word, which I had quoted before, even meditated over, without ever having felt their power, have now become for me like His living voice, and have taken an unthought of value. “Fear not, for I am with thee.” By His grace I could answer with the psalmist, “I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.”
Pardon me if I speak at such length of my experiences. I should only like to be able to express what all our brethren at the front can say to the glory of the Lord; what He has been; what He is, and continues to be in help, in grace, in love for all His well-beloved ones; how worthy He is of all our confidence, worthy that we should serve Him better, that we should redeem the time—we, who are still young and sleep so well. He is worthy of all our affection, worthy that our hearts should desire Him. Is it not to know Him, to desire Him, and for one who knows Him what happiness to think that we are going to see Him and praise Him always!
I did not give you any details on what brought about my departure. The week of Easter was a terrible one for us. We had to go to the assault of some German trenches, well furnished with machine guns and situated on a crest about 80 meters from ours. After a night under the rain the arrangements were made, and the hour of attack fixed. What hours of anguish! Yes, then I needed the Saviour, Himself. I needed to feel Him very, very close.
How sorrowful it was, too, to see so many souls, indifferent, terrified, and perhaps near death. I reminded several of former conversations when I had been able to speak to them of the love of God. They remained deaf, as if unable to think of anything else but the horror of the present hour. How solemn it is to refuse the grace which is offered to man, and to look back on it too late.
The cannonade preceding the attacks, and supposed to destroy everything in the enemy trench, began; a formidable cannonade! Forty pieces, each giving about ten discharges a minute. The Germans replied furiously. There was an infernal hurricane of iron and fire. The hour drew near and I prayed the Lord to spare me the horror of that attack with the bayonet. It was what I had constantly been praying about.
Suddenly I received a violent blow on the head. A stone had struck me, thrown violently by the explosion of a shell. I fell unconscious. They carried me away and in the shelter of the second line of trenches, my prayers answered, and delivered, when I came to myself, I could bless the Lord. Very tired, I was startled at every explosion of the shells which rained around me. My chief (sergeant-major) passed at that moment leading the second company which had to follow the first to the assault. I heard him say to an under officer, as he pointed me out: “Some men are happy enough to have faith in God.” I had often presented the gospel to him—particularly two days before, when, much affected, he said: “Think! Is it not frightful! I and my young wife are everything to each other. We are an artist household, all for the joy of living; no material cares; a mother who spoils us, like two big children; and I have to leave all that! Be killed!” I showed him the nothingness of everything here below, but the eternal happiness of the redeemed, the love of God in Christ.
“I cannot believe; my reason does not admit these things,” was his answer. On his remark about me—although very dizzy from my blow—I was still able to say to him: “Think of our conversations, chief; there is still time, but the hour is solemn.” “Good-bye,” he said, holding out his hands to me. An hour afterward he fell mortally wounded.
The assault was made, the trenches were taken; the wounded streamed in. The night drew in, and through the narrow passages, in the mud, holding each other up, we went towards the hospital of a ruined village about a kilometer off, to a cellar where the doctors worked by the dim light of candles. Yonder on the crest of the hill the rifles crackled, the wounded called desperately for stretcher bearers. Shells rained around us on the earth.
Our Brother X, who, in a neighboring company to mine had been obliged to go to the assault, has also been marvelously kept. Could it be otherwise? Is not God our help, our shield, feeble though our confidence may be? It is written: “I will be with thee; I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.” We have both experienced it.
Since that terrible day I have been taken from ambulance to ambulance, and finally sent to the south. The brothers at the front count on the prayers of the saints. I do not doubt that in all places many requests rise to God. The news is good; all are sustained, God be praised.
May this terrible trial purify us; give to our hearts the freshness of a revival of love and zeal; give us to know Christ better, in an intimate and personal way, growing in that knowledge till the day when we shall see Him.