After the end of the Korean War, hundreds of American POW’s were released for repatriation. Cpl. Fred Benton was among those who helped debrief the GIs, some of whom had been in captivity over three years. Thousands had died in the POW camps, and those released were diseased and malnourished, some barely alive.
On the last
day of Benton’s assignment, a soldier shuffled up to his table, weak and
obviously ill, and sat motionless for several minutes before identifying
himself an infantry division Colonel. He reached into his pocket and took out a
mechanical pencil, holding it as if it were a jewel, and gently placed it on
the table. “Everything’s right there,” he said, and he instructed Benton
how to gently remove its contents. “It damages easily,” he said.
Inside Benton found a tightly rolled cylinder of rice paper. When uncoiled, it measured an inch wide and over five feet long, and contained the names of 232 soldiers who had died during the Colonel’s three-year captivity, with rank, serial number and cause of death for each soldier. The thought of this officer carefully recording and protecting this list for three years brought tears to Benton’s eyes. Words failed him in that moment, so he stood and saluted the man. He later said he didn’t know what more he could do.
In a cruel war with so many soldiers dead or missing in action, the Colonel’s information was a precious gift of love, allowing families to know what happened to their loved ones, and having a better chance to grieve their loss.
God’s Word is a more precious gift, filled with information of His love for all in Jesus Christ, no matter who we are or what we have done. In Revelation 21, Apostle John tells of the New Jerusalem in all its splendor, and he wrote, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
The Good News in this sinful world is that when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our names are recorded in God’s Book of Life. It will not tell of our sins or failures, but of His mercy that shines on us for eternity.
We live briefly on this earth, prisoners of a shameful and deceitful world. One day we will be released from this troubled place so that we can be in God’s presence with His faithful forevermore. The information in God’s Holy Word, gives comfort to us now and hope for a new life to come.
Thank You, Lord, for recording our names in the Book of Life.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com
Inside Benton found a tightly rolled cylinder of rice paper. When uncoiled, it measured an inch wide and over five feet long, and contained the names of 232 soldiers who had died during the Colonel’s three-year captivity, with rank, serial number and cause of death for each soldier. The thought of this officer carefully recording and protecting this list for three years brought tears to Benton’s eyes. Words failed him in that moment, so he stood and saluted the man. He later said he didn’t know what more he could do.
In a cruel war with so many soldiers dead or missing in action, the Colonel’s information was a precious gift of love, allowing families to know what happened to their loved ones, and having a better chance to grieve their loss.
God’s Word is a more precious gift, filled with information of His love for all in Jesus Christ, no matter who we are or what we have done. In Revelation 21, Apostle John tells of the New Jerusalem in all its splendor, and he wrote, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
The Good News in this sinful world is that when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our names are recorded in God’s Book of Life. It will not tell of our sins or failures, but of His mercy that shines on us for eternity.
We live briefly on this earth, prisoners of a shameful and deceitful world. One day we will be released from this troubled place so that we can be in God’s presence with His faithful forevermore. The information in God’s Holy Word, gives comfort to us now and hope for a new life to come.
Thank You, Lord, for recording our names in the Book of Life.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com
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