Richard Roberts – First of three parts
In 1942, the U.S.S. Barnett steamed up to the island of Guadalcanal and engaged in what became one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. The ship was loaded with Marines, guerilla warfare fighters who hit the beaches with a vengeance. The Japanese, however, had fortified the entire Guadalcanal area and they were equally determined not to give in to the American forces. For days and weeks, our American soldiers knew little but driving sand in their faces as shells exploded around them, trees toppled over them, and rats crawled around them.
At the same time, another battle was raging in the war rooms of the Japanese thousands of miles to the west. The Japanese Navy was upset because the United States had sunk 11 Japanese supply ships, and a great argument arose between the Japanese Navy and the Japanese Army. The Japanese Army desperately pleaded for supply ships to continue to support their men on Guadalcanal and the other surrounding islands. The Japanese Navy, however, said, “No, we’re going to pull back.” And so it was that the supply line to the Japanese soldiers was cut. It didn’t take long for the American forces to overtake the unsupplied Japanese troops, and to win the battle for Guadalcanal. Many military experts cite that as the turning point for the entire war in the Pacific.
We each must have a supply line in our lives. We need good nutrients coming into our bodies, money coming in to pay our bills, anointed messages of the Gospel feeding our souls. And yet, many of us make a decision ― conscious or unconscious ― to cut off our own supply lines. We sabotage ourselves refusing to look to God for ALL of the things we need in our lives. We start relying on ourselves alone. And before long, we’re in trouble.
Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God alone is our Source of total supply. Don’t cut off your supply line to Him!