On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, devastating the Pacific Fleet and killing 2,403 Americans. The attack, which included two waves of aircraft, sank or heavily damaged eight U.S. battleships and destroyed numerous aircraft. The battleship Arizona was sunk in the harbor trapping over 900 sailors and marines under water and eventually to their death by fire and drowning. The Arizona battleship is now a national cemetery in Pearl harbor. The next day, the United States declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II. It was declared by our president (FDR) over radio to the entire nation that it is a day that “will live in infamy.” And indeed, this year it will be 84 years since that day our nation was changed for us.
No doubt many of American’s have no idea what Peral Harbor Day is or what day it even lands on in the calendar. I think that it is sad that so much sacrifice of lives can be, after time, forgotten by a nation. I am thankful that we as Christians remember the sacrifice of others! And at this time as we approach Christmas, I am most encouraged that on December 25th we remember the day in a little town called Bethlehem our whole world changed for each one of us even to this day. On that day approx. 2029 years ago “a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us.” (Isaiah 9:6) That day, God in the flesh came as a baby born by the virgin Mary to eventually die for the salvation of a grateful and undeserving people. May we never forget the day when our whole world changed forever at the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! Pastor Mark