Watch & Pray

USGN article
by Barbi Franklin
December 1997

Terry & I had the privilege of enjoying a vacation in Hawaii a few months ago. While there, we took our boys, Tyler & Travis (now 9 & 10 years old) to the Pearl Harbor Memorial for the only homeschool lesson of our vacation. It didn't meet with much welcome from our boys until we saw the film that told the incredible story of that great American tragedy: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The message that kept penetrating my spirit the entire presentation, as though with neon lights, was the fact that just ONE MAN could have averted the entire catastrophe of Pearl Harbor. One survivor told the testimony of the 2 men stationed 28 miles off the island that detected the entire squadron of 350 fighter planes during their approach. Radar revealed the massive invasion well in advance that early morning in 1941.

Immediately, these two men contacted the base to inform what the radar displayed (they had been warned by government leaders that Japan could try something drastic). At this time there was only one lieutenant on duty at the main headquarters. They had had an evening of celebration with a band concert on one of the ships the night before and figured they were aware and well prepared for an enemy attack. But when the lieutenant on duty got the word, he said, "Don't worry about it. That's probably just the detachment of B17 airplanes that are supposed to arrive today."

So, no one stopped the pending doom of Pearl Harbor, though this nation was fully capable. As I sat in the theater of Pearl Harbor's memorial, the significance of just ONE MAN's actions sent daggers into my heart. The fear of the Lord gripped me to once again recognize the responsibility of each of us in these critical "Last Days" before the return of the Lord...especially those of us who have great influence over people through our God-given platform ministries.

Jesus warned us to "watch & pray" and not get caught without oil in our lamps or without investing ourselves and our resources in those things that will bear fruit! Don't forget that YOU could be that ONE PERSON that could spiritually influence a whole nation or even the world. Are you on guard and ready to take the Lord's call seriously today?!

Previous Article | Next Article

©1998 Terry & Barbi Franklin.