D-Day Remembered

Today is the 70^th anniversary of D-Day. Here in the UK the media marks the anniversary with concerts, programmes, much laying of wreaths and interviews with ‘old soldiers’ who have gone to the beaches of Normandie to remember. Some have travelled in the normal ways, by boat, plane, bus, or car, but one doughty 89-year-old parachuted in today, strapped to a red beret soldier, and one veteran sneaked out of his old folks’ home and made his way to the scene of such bravery and loss of life, where his memories would be strong and his emotions high. He’s obviously not lost any of his fight and initiative.

The concert from the Royal Albert Hall is telling the story of D-Day in the words written in letters of soldiers and spoken by the leaders of the time. The story is being beamed round the world to soldiers in today’s conflicts.

Psalm 61 reads ‘I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings.’

When I think of the anguish and agony of the brave soldiers invading the continent I think many must have cried to God for help. Their hearts must have been overwhelmed.  Many never made it any further than the sandy beach. Some never even made it out of the water. Many must have wondered why they were there. 

But waiting in Europe were those under the jack boot of the Nazis, desperate for an invasion by the allies. Anne Frank, in hiding with her family in Holland, wrote in her diary that they were waiting anxiously for help to arrive.

For some, including Anne Frank, help didn’t arrive in time. For some who were the help, there was no safe refuge, no fortress where enemies couldn’t reach them. 

War is an affront to God and humanity. But in some cases there seems no other choice but to fight to throw off a vicious oppressor.

When Jesus walked the earth in Jerusalem, the people of Israel watched desperately for a heavenly invasion to overthrow the ruthless Romans. It’s understandable why many Jews expected Jesus to take up arms and call out a band of fighters to get rid of the occupying forces. But that wasn’t God’s plan.

God provided sanctuary, in the shape of his only loved son. Any who take shelter in Jesus are safe forever in the arms of a loving God. 

Thank God for those brave men and women who fought for freedom 70 years ago on the beaches of Normandie, and thank God for the brave Jesus Christ who fought for eternal freedom 2,000 years ago. Thank God he didn’t just overthrow the Romans; he overthrew evil itself, and one day the mop-up operations will be over and we will all live in God’s sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of his wings. Forever.