We surely realize that we are in the last days with their perilous times. One would like to encourage the hearts, especially of the young, through the following personal memories of going through World War II as a young man. He who says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” did go with each of us who was called to serve in the armed forces in that awful conflict. Yet I feel, as difficult as those days were, my tour of duty during the war was not served in such difficult times as confront believers today.
During the war I realized over and over again that the One who saved my soul was able to save my life, preserve my testimony and redeem my body, as He promised. This was, and is, a great comfort to me.
The day I left home to be inducted into service, the verse on the daily calendar was: “Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border” (Jer. 31:16-1716Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. (Jeremiah 31:16‑17)).
What a comfort that was, realizing that my Lord and Saviour wanted my affections and promised to care for me. During my time in the service, He constantly reminded me that I was bought with a price, that the eyes of the Lord were upon me and that His ear was always opened to my cry.
Most of my duty was spent in Africa and Italy working in a hospital ward. But first I was sent to England. While there on guard duty one time, some children came through the area going home from Sunday school. I had a Messages of God’s Love in my pocket and gave it to them. They left but were soon back telling me that I was invited by their parents to their house. But I was unable to get a pass to go, for we were shipped out just two days later.
I always felt safe when traveling, whether by ship or rail, because God was my Father and I was cared for and loved by Him. There were many activities in which I could not become involved as a Christian. I was often alone in my tent in the evenings. But the Lord was always with me and I found these times to be wonderful opportunities to read the Bible and books of ministry such as Footprints for Pilgrims my older sister sent and to pray.
For twenty-three months I worked in a hospital ward, often twelve hours a day, seven days a week. I had to work on many Lord’s Days. As I walked to breakfast at those times, I would enjoy a song from the Little Flock Hymnbook—some hymn that was often sung in the remembrance of the Lord. Though I very much missed the remembrance of the Lord, those hymns gave me much comfort and happiness.
During the forty-two months I was in the service, the Lord was very dear and precious to me and on many occasions spared me from tragedies.
“How good is the God we adore” (Little Flock Hymnbook, #23).
W. Renaud